By Mr. Deddeh Kanmoh,

Save Our Women & Girls from FGM (Cutting)

This team of activists, women groups, journalists, and human rights actors who benefited from the cross-border FGM training in Foya Lofa County during this campaign had one Radio Talk Show on Radio Kintoma and another Talk Show on Radio Voice of Lofa.

Who was involved:

The team headed by Mrs. Deddeh Kanmoh during the two talk shows brought together Mr. Alexzander H. Kollie of the ministry of gender, Mr. Mohammed Seasay of the Independent National Human Rights Commission, and Madam Ballah K. Yamah coordinator of the Lofa County Disabled Organization.

The team’s major talking points were the danger or risk involved with FGM on our women and girls and our community or society as well.

Our success:

The project has been very successful in the fight that this is the first time for FGM campaigners to have a wider platform to discuss the issue of FGM because a lot of people still see FGM as a taboo.

There were several callers with mixed reactions to the awareness with 75-80% being in support of the campaign to end FGM while few others said it’s a tradition that cannot be changed.

These radio talk shows we believe have helped to amplify and widen our message amongst community members on the harm of FGM especially those health implications against our females.

Several young women met us after the radio shows and commanded us for a great job and said even thou they could not be called on the shows because of fear of their parents. 

Difficulties:

The only challenge we as a team encountered during the campaign period was the fact that some community members personally engage as that we are being paid to create such awareness and that we may not continue but we have the promise to continue these engagements in our various communities even in the absence of donor funding.

Strong messages:

Next time:

•  Conduct community awareness with PA systems
• Include key actors like cutters, traditional leaders, religious leaders (pastors\imams)
• Introduce regular radio programs on the local radio stations
• Produce jingles\dramas in simple English and local languages for radio airing

Estimate audience reach:

During this ester awareness campaign, our team targeted approximately 120,000 people from Voinjama and Quardu Gboni districts as well as Guinean towns that are bordering Liberia.

This includes women, men, children, religious leaders, persons with disability, traditional leaders, cutters, and local authorities among several other sectors.