The End Female Genital Mutilation Initiative (EndFGM) is a project that educates key community influencers — community leaders, traditional birth attendants, women leaders — who are the major perpetrators of FGM in Nigeria.
FGM is the ritual cutting or removing of some or all of the external female genitalia. This sexual and gender-based violence is increasingly being reported and documented. From our experience, it is crucial to work with community influencers to effect sustained change in norms and attitudes.
Using a human-centered design approach, we have helped several communities to understand the dangers of FGM; we train them in the process of abandoning the practice; we have also established anti-FGM groups that will continuously work to sustain the impact of our intervention.
The initiative has helped communities to end FGM. Our programs empower young mothers to protect their daughters; educate perpetrators to give up their trade and speak against the practice; encourage circumcised ladies to tell their stories as a form of activism, and encourage community leaders to denounce FGM.