BREAKING THE SILENCE

“At first, I was considered an uprooted person. Someone who doesn’t appreciate the culture of our ethnicity and my parents were consistently notified by the elders that I was rude. ” Dienabou Sow says. 

Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) remains a challenge in Senegal with the practice being linked to religion in some parts while in other parts, it is linked to cultural norms and the belief that a girls will remain well-behaved.

In Senegal, nearly 2 million girls have undergone FGM/C. In the last two decades, the prevalence has remained largely unchanged. This has often been linked to early marriages and the end of a girl’s education.

Dienabou intends to change the narrative  “I have  been vocal since my school-going days, and I am now one of the leaders of The Girls’ club of Koussanar. A club founded primarily to be part of ending violence against girls and women, particularly FGM/C. With the support of ActionAid, the group has been equipped with a strong sense of awareness-raising methods.

“I have been able to convince my parents and close relatives of the dangers that FGM/C poses to girls putting into perspective that it has no known benefit. Despite the insults and hurdles I have  faced from community members, I remain determined to spread the new gospel.”

My Voice, My Power

“As a survivor, I often touch on the pain I endured while undergoing FGM/C not to mention the healing process. Unfortunately, survivors must be cut twice; when they are young and on their wedding day.” Dienabou opens up. “Having undergone the cut against my will gave me the courage to amplify my voice to change the narrative.”

Through her association composed of young girls, she shares her story with them giving them power over their bodies. She, together with other fellow members of the association have incorporated the boys in the anti-FGM campaign. “As we continue to use a girl-centered approach, I recognise that boys play a pivotal role and must become our allies as they will be fathers in the future and are brothers of the girls involved in raising awareness against FGM.” 

“By adopting a holistic approach, I am confident that we will be able to bring to an end the practice of FGM/C in my community.”