Jamila,
       We can definitely plan our visit together.  I also hope that more
people will join us. The more we come together, the stronger our fight.

To answer your question, it is possible to get in touch with the
organizations dealing with the issue of FGM.  I plan to do some research to
find out how we can connect with them.  My research will start by Calling my
Uncle Gabbi Sosseh to get the Phone number of the World Health Organization
office in Gambia and take it from there.

WE CAN DO IT
Ramatoulie


>From: Jamila Allston <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Female Circumcision - What Should Be The Approach To
>    Faciliating Positive Change
>Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000 22:16:22 -0700
>
>Ramatoulie,
>
>      I also hope to return to The Gambia next year.  Maybe we can
>coordinate our visits so that I can assist you in spearheading the
>concept through the schools.(ngo's working with women and villages).
>
>Matte,
>
>      Is it possible that we can connect with those organizations to
>learn of their educational strategies and to see how we can be of
>further assistance?
>
>
>
>--- Ramatoulie Gillen <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > Jamila,
> >        I also have been reading the postings on the L. Some of the
> > arguments
> > were good. However, some were saying that we can't stop the immoral
> > act?
> > others saying that it will be slow and so on.  something must be done
> > immediately.  The UNICEF reports that 6,000 girls around the world
> > are
> > subjected to FGM every day....And so as I write now, my heart hurts
> > so
> > painfully that my fingers tremble and I traumatically flinch to the
> > knowledge that there is a child screaming for our help right at this
> > moment....help from us, the unknown because her mother, the known, is
> > outside dancing and chanting to the occasion with family and friends.
> >
> > As I reflect back to some of these responses, I feel as helpless as
> > that
> > little girl currently under the razor blade.  Right now I could not
> > help but
> > join her creams...as tears fell down our cheeks, we are screaming for
> > your
> > help Gambia Lers. Let us stop the pessimisms and arguments, and start
> > doing
> > something. The already cut off clitoris cannot be restored, but we
> > must not
> > allow anymore mutilation. Like most stated, education is the weapon
> > that can
> > abolish FGM.
> >
> >                 EDUCATION  EDUCATION  EDUCATION
> > I'm planning to go to Gambia next year.  My plans, if successful is
> > to
> > create a program that allows me to go to high schools and teach
> > future
> > mothers and fathers the deadly health problems caused by FGM. Most of
> > the
> > time we go to Gambia just to have fun and show off. How about
> > everyone who
> > goes for holidays target few families and discuss all the facts
> > he/she
> > learns about FGM on the L.  You guys it works! We can do it.
> > Non-African
> > and non-muslims are doing it. In Somalia, Molly Melching, an American
> > exchange from the University of Illinois, designed an intensive
> > literacy
> > program. This program, sponsored by Hillary Clinton, teaches Africans
> > the
> > consequences of FGM. as a result, 700 villages have stopped the
> > practice(Vivienne Walt, Washington Post, 1995). The World Health
> > Organization is willing to send anyone who volunteers to teach the
> > dangers
> > of FGM. In April 1998, Hillary Clinton herself was one of these
> > volunteers
> > send to Senegal. I could go on. If these people can do it, Why can't
> > we?
> >
> > All it takes is talking. The mutilators are not our enemies, they are
> > just
> > so acculturated to such barbaric practice beyond their recognition of
> > harm.
> > Ramatoulie
> >
> > >From: Jamila Allston <[log in to unmask]>
> > >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
> > ><[log in to unmask]>
> > >To: [log in to unmask]
> > >Subject: Female Circumcision - What Should Be The Approach To
> > Faciliating
> > >            Positive Change
> > >Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000 11:35:21 -0700
> > >
> > >Dear Sisters and Brothers,
> > >
> > >     I have been following the debate regarding FGM and I believe
> > that
> > >the interchange is very good.  FGM is an issue that arouses many
> > >emotions (anger, pain, etc.)  The array of vocalizations is indeed
> > >needed to come to a consensus that life is a continuum and that
> > >cultural practices that have been instituted at one point can be
> > >modified/changed for the betterment of a people.
> > >
> > >     As an African Woman born in America, not only am I concern
> > about
> > >the conditions of my people where ever we are...I have a special
> > >concern regarding the mental, emotional, psychological and physical
> > >oppression and abuse of African Women throughout the diaspora and at
> > >home in Africa.
> > >
> > >    While I have been a long time believer that FGM must be
> > eradicated,
> > >I also recognize that issues of culture and tradition must be
> > handled
> > >delicately.  It is not enough to demand a change of a people' s
> > >practices of culture and tradition (however we disagree or how
> > sincere
> > >we may be) through the rantings of disgust and condemnation.
> > >
> > >    As the debate proceeds, the next logical step may be to look at
> > how
> > >this forum can be used to developed proactive strategies for
> > >facilitating educational activism to assist these communities,
> > >villages, etc. to re think a cultural/traditional practice that is
> > >indeed harmful to the well being of the African Woman...thus
> > ultimately
> > >harmful to the well being of the African family and community.
> > >
> > >   Part of the strategy should be to also examine the genesis of
> > some of
> > >our questionable practices.  Are these practices truly African in
> > >nature, or have we taken on practices/behaviors that are now viewed
> > as
> > >African practices that were originally instituted by external
> > cultural
> > >and religious forces throughout the centuries.  Irregardless of the
> > >genesis, the practice needs to be eliminated.  Yet we must
> > understand
> > >the dynamics of our history in order to make appropriate
> > constructive
> > >change.
> > >
> > >    Just as we have come together to fight those oppressive forces
> > that
> > >are destroying The Gambia, let us use our collective capabilities to
> > >develop strategies and programs that can indeed play a major role in
> > >eradicating FGM forever.
> > >
> > >    Yours in the struggle.
> > >
> > >                              Jamila
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >__________________________________________________
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