DE

Tanzania
How education, entrepreneurship are ending FGM in Siha District

FGM Tanzania

KILIMANJARO: THE reduction of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Siha District, particularly in its pastoralist communities, is a direct result of collaborative efforts between the Tanzanian government and key stakeholders. These initiatives have primarily focused on raising awareness, promoting education on human rights and providing sustainable alternatives to the harmful tradition.

One of the most successful aspects of this movement has been the role of education, delivered by organisations like the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) in partnership with the Kilimanjaro Women Information Exchange and Community Organisation (KWIECO). FGM has long been a deeply ingrained cultural practice in many communities, including those in Siha District. However, education has played a pivotal role in shifting mindsets. The primary aim has been to help both women and men understand the severe physical, emotional and psychological harms associated with FGM, as well as its violation of human rights. FNF, a German-based foundation that promotes freedom and human dignity, has been instrumental in these efforts. According to Ms Veni Swai, the FNF East Africa representative, over 80 ‘Maghariba’ traditional circumcisers in the community received education on the harmful effects of FGM and chose to abandon the practice.

FGM Tanzania

This shift was not immediate, as there was initial resistance from many community members, especially parents who saw FGM as an essential cultural tradition. Ms Swai noted that FGM was not only seen as a cultural rite but also as a source of income for many circumcisers, who could earn between 30,000 to 50,000 Tanzanian shillings per girl, along with other gifts such as oil and meat. This economic incentive made it difficult for some people to consider alternatives. However, through consistent education, many traditional circumcisers began to recognise the negative impacts of their actions on the health and well-being of girls and women. In addition to awareness campaigns, the training also focused on offering viable alternatives for income generation. By introducing entrepreneurship programmes and forming small groups, former FGM practitioners were given the tools to start businesses and support their families in ways that did not harm others. These small business groups became platforms for exchanging ideas and experiences, including discussions about the negative effects of FGM.

Ms Edna Mollel, a community member and participant in the seminars, shared her experience of how challenging it was to convince people to abandon customs passed down through generations. “It wasn’t easy to teach people to abandon the customs passed down by their elders,” she said. “However, we are grateful that they understood and the practice has decreased significantly, with only a few cases happening secretly.” This shift is reflected in the significant decrease in FGM cases in the region, with some estimates suggesting a reduction of up to 80 per cent.

FGM Tanzania

Although FGM is now illegal and socially condemned, it may still occur in secret, largely because of its deep cultural roots and the ongoing, albeit diminishing, economic incentives for those who perform the procedure. To address this, community members who once practiced FGM are now playing an active role in educating others about the harms of the practice. Regular meetings are held in local communities, where religious and traditional leaders collaborate with peer educators to spread the message further. This multi-pronged approach has ensured that the education reaches all segments of the population, including remote areas, schools and health centres.

Ms Mollel emphasised the importance of local resolutions and the involvement of healthcare providers in helping to eliminate FGM. “We planned and decided to visit clinics,” she explained. “If we found a child who had been circumcised, the mother would be taken to the authorities.This has helped a lot in eliminating the practice.” Similarly, Ms Elisharia Palangyo, a former circumciser from Karansi in Senta village, described how economic hardship drove her to perform FGM in the past. “We used to perform circumcision because it was our source of income,” she recalled. “For instance, a child could earn us between 30,000 and 50,000 shillings.” But after receiving training and support from FNF and KWIECO, Ms Palangyo and others in her community turned away  from the practice and began educating others about its harmful effects.

FGM Tanzania

In addition to spreading awareness, these former circumcisers were empowered to start small businesses, such as selling potatoes, maize, beans and livestock, providing them with sustainable livelihoods. “We now have the freedom to run our businesses and earn a greater income,” Ms Palangyo said. “We are now more independent and the women’s groups have really helped us move forward.” The local government has also played a crucial role in these efforts. According to Mr Honesti Assey, the councillor and executive officer of the Karansi ward, the decline in FGM has been partly due to the educational initiatives, especially those conducted in the pastoralist communities. The inclusion of religious leaders in the education process has been particularly effective, as faith leaders are influential figures within these communities. Once they understood the harmful consequences of FGM, they used their platforms to disseminate the message. Furthermore, the government has supported local entrepreneurship initiatives by providing access to loans for youth and women’s groups, facilitated by the training programmes initiated by FNF. “Without the support from FNF, these groups would not have been able to benefit from the 10 per cent loan provided by the council,” Mr Assey added.

Thanks to these coordinated efforts, Siha District has seen a dramatic decline in FGM, with both traditional circumcisers and community members embracing the change. The success of these initiatives is a testament to the power of education, collaboration and sustainable development in tackling deeply rooted cultural practices like FGM. The fight against FGM in Siha District serves as an inspiring model for other regions, demonstrating that through education and community engagement, even the most entrenched harmful practices can be overcome.

Original article published on Daily News, Tanzania by Dativa Minja