Greetings all,
With all due respect it seems that it is better to check first with all
the Gambian groups that have been carrying out such education efforts
since the early 1980's and to build on what they have already done (there
have been a LOT of educational programs in the high schools for
example). Also I am wondering if the information about Molly Melching is
entirely correct as the Tostan project is taking place in Senegal, not
Somalia. Best, Ylva Hernlund
On Fri, 13 Oct 2000, Isatou Njie wrote:
> Ramatoulie:
> I think this is definitely a good starting point. I
> mentioned in a posting last week that we need to get
> motivated and take on the task of educating our
> people. One might think that it could be difficult
> with us being in the States, but as you mentioned,
> some of us do have the privilege to visit Gambia once
> in a while. My suggestion is that we as concerned
> citizens should form a task force and get some
> materials together which can be distributed to friends
> and families. The few of us who might be fortunate to
> make the trip can use the materials to educate and
> empower the people to change. Personally, I think this
> can be done if we can get some people to believe in
> the need to change. Contacting The World Health
> Organization, and Ms. Melching could be a good
> referencing source.I just hope that this vision that
> we have for change can be share by all......
> --- 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
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >__________________________________________________
> > >Do You Yahoo!?
> > >Get Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from
> > anywhere!
> > >http://mail.yahoo.com/
> > >
> >
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