PASTORALIST CHILD FOUNDATION
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Mission Statement
Mission: To end female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced early marriage of girls in Samburu County and Maasai Mara, Kenya. Through mobilization and educational workshops, girls are taught about harmful practices that marginalize them, leaving them with very little to look forward to in life. Pastoralist Child Foundation (PCF) also provides educational sponsorships for girls to attend secondary boarding schools and universities. PCF also focuses on the empowerment of women. We support and mentor women's self-help groups to start their own businesses.
About This Cause
Pastoralist Child Foundation (PCF) implements programs that aim to prevent and respond to FGM, child marriage and other harmful practices within the Samburu and Maasai communities. The scope of the nonprofit organization's advocacy includes the prevention of HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, child, early and forced marriage, resisting violence, reproductive health, sanitation and hygiene, and the importance of formal education. The organization’s main tool for confronting these issues is the involvement of the community at the grassroots level in educational workshops through which they disseminate comprehensive sexuality education information. The foundation also sponsors girls to attend primary and secondary schools and ensuring they have all basic needs such as uniforms, shoes, books, bedding, personal toiletries, and sanitary towels. Pastoralist Child Foundation has devised innovative and comprehensive approaches to prevent FGM in Samburu and Maasai Mara not only in the short-term, but also in the long-term. The organization’s approach has seen it widen the scope of its advocacy. It engages a broader range of stakeholders, including girls, who are victims of FGM, at risk of health complications, some leading to death, early and forced marriage making a girl unable to finish her education and contribute to the economy. Mothers and fathers are engaged as they typically make the crucial decision that dictates when a girl will undergo the dreaded "cut". Through the active involvement of various stakeholders, PCF has managed to gain the broad support of the Samburu and Maasai community. The community understands that PCF is not out to change their beautiful culture, but only rectify the negative elements within the culture such as FGM and forced child marriage. The organization is very committed and true to its mission. To clarify the word "pastoralist" - Pastoralists are semi-nomadic people in the northern Rift Valley of Kenya who rely on the rearing of livestock (cattle, goats, sheep, and camels) for their livelihood. The practice of FGM is deeply rooted, going back many centuries. FGM is considered a passage to womanhood and is usually performed on girls as young as 12 in preparation for marriage. FGM is illegal in Kenya. It's a human rights violation, an unnecessary procedure that only causes harm, and gender-based violence. PCF is the first nonprofit organization to introduce educational workshops at the grassroots level. In December, 2015 a village called "Namayiana" near Archer's Post declared itself FGM-free. The residents of this village made the commitment to never perform FGM on their girls. The villagers are very grateful to PCF for enlightening them about the harmful effects of FGM. Education is vital in effecting change, and it's working! PCF works with youth, parents/guardians, and engages young men to ensure that all stakeholders get the message and are oriented on girls’ human rights. Comprehensive sexuality education is conducted in an area that is afflicted with scarcity. As a result, girls often lack the privilege of accessing basic amenities such as sanitary towels. PCF provides full scholarships for girls attending secondary boarding schools and universities. Please visit our website for more information about this program. FGM is no joke! To date, an estimated 230 MILLION girls and women around the world have undergone FGM!! FGM is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. It reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women. It is nearly always carried out on minors and is a violation of the rights of children. The practice also violates a person’s rights to health, security and physical integrity, the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and the right to life when the procedure results in death. Procedures are mostly carried out on young girls sometime between infancy and age 15, and occasionally on adult women. Immediate complications from FGM can include severe pain, shock, haemorrhage (bleeding), tetanus or sepsis (bacterial infection), urine retention, open sores in the genital region and injury to nearby genital tissue. The health of a newborn can also be compromised with a higher risk of childbirth complications or infant mortality. Long-term consequences from FGM can include: recurrent bladder and urinary tract infections, cysts, infertility, back pain, painful menstruation, painful intercourse, the need for later surgeries, and PTSD.