IMPACT and FGM
Request for Support of the IMPACT Program to Combat GBV, FGM, and Early Marriages in East Africa
We are delighted to seek your support for the IMPACT-ing East Africa Program in East Africa, which we believe can make a profound difference in the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and early marriages, particularly in regions deeply afflicted by these harmful practices.
This is Lankenua, a fourteen year old girl who was at the verge of falling into FGM and Early Marriage in Maasaini Community.
This was due to the challenge of drought and the cows of the father died on 25th September 2024. The father resorted to trading her off in exchange for 10 cows. She had to undergo FGM so that she could br “initiated” into adulthood and marriage.
By the grace of God, her mother contacted the Orthodox Christian youth Association of Kenya and informed them about it. The team was very swift and we snatched her a night before the retrogressive ritual of FGM was meant to happen. She was saved by the Rescue team of volunteers. More than 20 other cases have been brought since then.
Recently they saved another girl called Maria in worse but similar disturbing circumstances. The Leaders are turning to IMPACT to provide societal transformation through the Community Clubs. They are positive that the clubs will resolve this menace to young women and girls and that we will together create a safe and habitable space for children to thrive in Kenya. That is what the IMPACT-ing East Africa Program is all about: Solving real issues that affect real people.
These issues present alarming statistics. In Kenya alone, 23% of girls are married before the age of 18, with similar figures across Uganda and Tanzania. Female genital mutilation, a grave violation of human rights, affects over 4 million girls annually, leaving them scarred physically and emotionally. In some regions, GBV is rampant, with 45% of women reporting having experienced some form of physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. These realities stifle the futures of young women and entire communities, perpetuating cycles of poverty, violence, and social disempowerment.
The IMPACT Program seeks to disrupt these cycles by empowering youth through education, community-driven action, and faith-based leadership. With a strong foundation rooted in our societal values, we are working to equip young people with the tools they need to address these critical issues in their communities. Through service-learning projects, leadership training, and interfaith dialogue, we are fostering a new generation of compassionate, knowledgeable leaders ready to challenge harmful cultural norms and protect vulnerable girls and women.
The program targets both prevention and intervention, with strategies that include raising awareness on the dangers of FGM, advocating for the rights of young girls, and engaging community leaders and faith groups in safeguarding the future of the most vulnerable. These efforts have already shown success in other parts of the world, and we believe with the right support, we can replicate these life-saving initiatives across East Africa.
Your support would be vital in helping us expand these efforts to the areas most in need. By empowering local youth and community leaders, we believe the IMPACT Program can turn the tide on GBV, FGM, and early marriages, ensuring a safer and brighter future for thousands of girls across East Africa.
IMPACT march against Gender Vased Violence
Together, we can bring hope, healing, and lasting change to communities that need it most. Thank you for your time and consideration.
May God bless you in your continued efforts to support those in need.
Joshua, IMPACT champion for Kenya and East Africa