First ever Alternative Rite of Passage Ceremony in Maasai Mara

On Saturday, 9th April, The Maa Trust held the first ever Alternative Rite of Passage event in the Maasai Mara. 73 girls were part of the one-week mentorship programme and the subsequent graduation that took place at Ilbaan Village.

The goal of the programme is to contribute to raising of awareness and collective action towards Child Rights and abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The impact of a successful project implementation will be reduction in FGM over 3 years and an increase in girls transitioning from primary to secondary school in the 10 schools engaged in the project over the 5 years’ period.

The graduation ceremony also provided community leaders and parents the opportunity to pledge to no longer circumcise girls. The fight against Female Genital Mutilation is a collective responsibility and we can only make strides through unity.

"I need to be a doctor. We all need a better future. I need to be someone in future. I can be anything I want to be if you don't circumcise me" - 15 yr old Ann Penoi said during the Alternative Rite of Passage Ceremony at Ilbaan Village.

We appreciate our supporters Borders Crossing, Asilia Africa and Angama Foundation for working with us closely to make the ceremony a success. The end of FGM will help us attain some of the following Sustainable Development Goals; No poverty, good health and well-being, quality education and gender equality.