The Network Against Female Gential Mutilation Tanzania (NFGM) is an association of nongovernmental organizations and activists dedicated to ending gender-based violence, including female genital mutilation (FGM) and other harmful traditions such as child marriage. The organization’s mission is to protect girls and raise awareness among local communities through educational seminars, training workshops, and advocacy campaigns. Additionally, NFGM offers safe spaces to survivors of FGM and child marriage and provides educational scholarships to help adolescent girls reach their full potential.
Although Tanzania officially outlawed FGM in 1998, the problem persists in many of the country’s regions today. While rates have decreased overall, they remain alarmingly high in many parts of the country, particularly in rural areas. For example, in the Manyara and Arusha regions, 43 percent of women and girls have been subjected to FGM. This reality highlights the need for grassroots solutions that are sensitive to local contexts, including economic, cultural, and religious considerations. NFGM is guided by this theory of change and seeks to facilitate open dialogue to motivate self-driven changes in local communities.
With support from the Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund, NFGM will expand its safe spaces and advocacy programs to reach more girls and community members. NFGM will host girls’ clubs in 10 schools, providing education on gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health, and vocational skills. The organization will also provide shelter to 20 additional girls who are survivors of gender-based violence. Additionally, NFGM will host four local events in the Manyara and Arusha regions to educate families, local leaders, and other stakeholders about the dangers of FGM and child marriage.
NFGM expects to directly reach 1,500 girls and 20,000 community members through this project. Using a comprehensive approach, NFGM aims to end the practice of FGM in local communities and offer direct support to girls who are most vulnerable. As an end goal, the organization seeks to protect the dignity and rights of girls by breaking the silence on a practice which endangers their wellbeing.
To learn more about the Network Against Female Genital Mutilation, please visit the organization’s website.
See more projects: Africa, Gender-based Violence, Leadership & Life Skills Development, Sexual & Reproductive Health & Rights