Efforts to end FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) are being made all around the world. The United Nations has recognized The International Day of the Girl Child as an alternative rite of passage since 2012. Twenty years ago when she was a missionary, Jerri Savuto herself partnered with Kenyan leaders, working to end FGM and developing an alternative rite of passage. Progress has been made and the practice is now illegal in Kenya. But the practice continues in very remote and economically-deprived areas. Backlash occurs. The fight goes on.
When you travel, you need to be flexible when a change of plans is necessary. Our Plan B turned out to a blessing because it allowed many more girls to participate!
We had planned to celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child at the Jerri Savuto Girls Center in Tot after the dedication of the JS Center buildings. The nearby Catholic Guest House was not available as planned, so we needed to move to another location. The Jerri Savuto girls traveled to the Marigat area and took place on a boarding school campus which was available during a school holiday. Following the long journey to the new location some of the girls got off the bus and knelt down to touch the asphalt road. They had never traveled on a smooth paved road before! This was the first of many new experiences in the days to come!
This International Day of the Girl Child Event was sponsored and supported by the two mission teams from Texas. (One Team was from FUMC Denton, Cynthia's home church; the other team was led by Rev. Lisa Neslony and Rev. Kevin Anderson. Both Teams were from the Horizon Texas Conference UMC.)
"Fearfully and wonderfully made"
-- a Journey to Womanhood in Christ
The event was a three-day alternative rite of passage event for all the Jerri Savuto girls. We were able to also include over 100 girls from the Marigat area! The girls received instruction on four modules:
- Identity and Spiritual Formation
- Understanding My Body and Health
- Emotional and Psychological Wellness
- Life Skills and Leadership
The team from FUMC Denton and the team led by Rev. Lisa Neslony along with local Anti-FGM leader, Noeli Chepchumba, served as instructors. There was singing, dancing, drumming and lots of sporting activities during breaks in the instruction. The teams brought lots of sports balls for the girls to enjoy at the event and in the future. They created “vision boards” of how they see their futures. These posters were made from magazine photos and colored markers. We had a birthday party for the whole group.
Janet Fisher shared a presentation on affirmations. My daughter Fara, a physician assistant, taught about understanding their bodies.
The girls got to decorate the Chrismons that Janet and Dennis Fisher brought. These Chrismons are now being sold to support the JSGC so the girls can say they are helping to support themselves. The Fishers have made a puzzle especially to benefit the Jerri Savuto Girls Center. They gave the JSGC Matron a puzzle for the girls to work on together.
Pauline wanted the graduation to be a special moment for each girl, and it was! They will remember these three days for a long time! The girls were treated to a tour of the resort where the teams were staying. They noticed the landscaping which was so different from their homeland area. They got to take a dip in the resort pool! (See the pictures!) I presented each girl with her graduation shirt and they also got a new skirt.
Sunday’s festivities started with the girls parading into the school compound. They sang "We Are Marching in the Light of God" as they entered the meeting hall. At the graduation, there was no doubt that Jerri Savuto was with us! The JS girls got to show everyone that Jerri was there at this special moment by holding up a picture of Jerri, the center’s namesake. 176 girls received a graduation certificate from a Jerri Savuto Charitable Foundation Board member. Then all the girls gathered outside for a group photo. They were very proud graduates!
***Be sure to see the photo album of this event and read the captions for more of the story!***
