The first phase of the European project Let's CHANGE (2018–2020), dedicated to training mediators and trainers, was launched on March 16, 2019, with a meeting between the new mediators and trainers, followed by the first module on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Let's CHANGE is a project that aims to empower members of diasporas in Europe to promote the abandonment of FGM in their communities. The eight mediators are tasked with raising awareness in their communities about the dangers of female genital mutilation for women and girls. The six trainers (former mediators) will be responsible for training professionals (in the health, social, and education sectors), which is a new aspect of this phase.
After an initial exchange between mediators and trainers to get to know each other, the trainers were able to share their experiences in facilitating awareness-raising workshops. Subsequently, each trainer will be assigned to mentor a mediator to assist them in their community outreach activities. These men and women, all from the African continent (Mauritania, Egypt, Mali, Guinea, Senegal), are committed to combating violence against women. Thanks to their diverse skills and professional backgrounds (gynecologist, marriage and family counselor, nurse, etc.), the discussions on MSF practices were fruitful. Several topics were discussed, including the need to raise awareness of the dangers of the practice from an early age: "It's important to talk to children about FGM early on. I saved my daughter from excision. Before leaving Mali, I told her that when she hears talk of excision, she must run away. They tried to excise her five times, and five times she ran away. She is 19 today and has escaped it for good," explained Hinda, a trainer.
After the sharing session, the mediators were trained on FGM: definition, types, consequences for women and girls, etc. This introduction to FGM will be supplemented by six other modules to explore the subject in greater depth in the coming months.
“It was a very rewarding day for me because I learned a lot and I am happy to have been able to meet my fellow change agents!” said Kadidiatou, a newcomer to the project.
Thanks to this new motivated and dynamic group, the Let's CHANGE project promises to be a success. The work of the mediators and trainers represents another step forward in promoting the abandonment of female genital mutilation!
