On February 6, we acknowledge the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a day to raise awareness in order to combat the practice. It's also a day where we celebrate the progress made toward the elimination of the harmful traditional practices holding girls back from reaching their full potential.
In Kenya, female genital mutilation — which is mostly carried out on girls ages 10 to 14 — is often a precursor to child marriage. This harmful practice can have devastating physical and psychological effects that impact a girl's health, education, marriage, and future. And it's illegal.
Although considerable progress has been made toward ending child marriage globally, about 650 million1 of the world’s girls and women alive today were married in childhood. Every minute, 22 girls under the age of 18 are married2, and this number is rising as families in extreme poverty see few options besides the bride price they can get for their daughters.
“Child marriage is a global issue that affects millions of girls every year, robbing them of their chance at an education, threatening their health and safety, and locking them into a cycle of poverty. And at the current rate of progress, it will be 300 years before child marriage is eradicated. But change is possible in our lifetime," says Melinda French Gates.
We strongly agree that change is possible. Together, we can help communities end FGM and child marriage in our lifetime.
World Vision: Changing mindsets and impacting the next generation
Peninah (center) meets with a group of schoolgirls.
When Peninah was a girl in Kenya, the rites of FGM were a celebration — the trauma and lifelong harm it caused girls was never considered. She was 'cut' at the age of 12, and she remembers feeling that she was now a woman. Soon after, she was married and had four children of her own. One of her children is now sponsored through World Vision. Information sessions held by World Vision staff helped members of Peninah's community learn about the harm caused by FGM and child marriage.
Over time, she started to challenge the long-held cultural mindsets she was raised with. She began to see that these traditional practices were damaging girls’ well-being and was convinced they should be stopped. She became a community health volunteer and began advocating for the end of FGM and child marriage — speaking with community leaders and holding information sessions at the local school to tell others about girls' rights, the dangers of FGM and child marriage, and how to help stop them by reporting cases to the authorities.
Peninah has become a trusted friend and advocate for local girls, and she has stepped in in several cases to prevent them from becoming victims of these practices.
Impact update: Strong Women Strong World annual report now available!
Our latest report shares the incredible accomplishments we have made together in the first year of our audacious new 8-year vision. Click the button below to read the report now!
A letter from donor partner and National Leadership Council member Carla Hillard
As a mother of six and grandmother of eight, my heart is drawn to child protection issues both in my family and around the world. Each child needs to know that they are created equally and preciously with God given value, talent and purpose. I’ve raised my children to understand and own these same truths.
Traveling to Bangladesh and many other countries with World Vision and my husband, David, we have witnessed the debilitating effects of extreme poverty on children. Sometimes it is physical poverty, and other times it is poverty of hope and dreams, especially for those born female. Young girls are literally saddled with walking miles a day to fetch dirty water, figuratively shackled in child labor or married off as child brides for minimal dowries. All of this happens at the expense of their education, self-worth and future potential.
We have also witnessed what happens when girls are given the tools to help them break from harmful cultural norms. Through World Vision Child-Friendly Learning Centers, children are given an opportunity to learn life skills, receive academic assistance, become educated about their rights, and encouraged to dream big dreams. When girls receive this attention and training you see them come alive. You see it on their faces, how they communicate, and even how they walk. They exude newfound confidence.
Carla Hillard visiting Bangladesh in 2018.
Carla and David Hillard visiting Bangladesh in 2018.
These brave girls are breaking through cultural barriers that have existed for generations. Opening doors for girls now means that you’re changing what’s possible for their children and grandchildren as well. You’re transforming the future of entire communities.
I believe that each child in the world has God-given potential, regardless of gender. They are created in God’s image and precious in his sight. Our children and grandchildren understand this and by partnering with World Vision, you will help all children know and confidently act upon the fact that that God has a wonderful plan and a purpose for their lives.
Announcement: An exciting new partnership with Danielle Strickland
Strong Women Strong World has partnered with Danielle Strickland for season 13 of her podcast Right Side Up, focused on the theme of Living Legacy. Danielle is inviting listeners on a transformative journey to ignite their souls and inspire action.
Each episode will include an interview with someone already on this transformational journey of a living legacy who we want to learn from. You'll hear from many different voices, from different backgrounds and a variety of specialties, to discuss how you can live a legacy NOW.
This week's episode features Margo Day, long-time World Vision donor partner, co-founder of the Mekuno Project, and former VP of U.S. Education at Microsoft Corporation. It's a powerful and thoughtful conversation you do not want to miss!
You can listen now on Spotify, Apple, and Google Podcasts, or watch on YouTube. Just search for "Right Side Up"!
Double your impact! Every $1 given to Strong Women Strong World® will be matched with a $1 donation to programs that empower women and girls, thanks to a generous SWSW partner.
Lend your voice (and your email): Join the World Vision Advocates — a community of ordinary people who desire to follow God's call to seek justice! Visit World Vision Advocacy to learn more.
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World Vision's Strong Women Strong World®
helps keep girls and women at the center of global community development, advocacy,
and emergency response work. Together, we can continue making a difference
in the lives of women and girls and accelerate communities’ progress out of poverty.
