Projects

A key element of our work over the years has been to promote the ‘alternative rites of passage’ concept by restructuring the rites of passage ceremonies for girls in The Gambia to exclude the physical act of genital cutting.

During the alternative rites of passage ceremony, we provide the initiates relevant and useful gender and culture sensitive information relating to health, religion, education, marriage, sexuality, relationships, and development while creating in them a sense of social responsibility, self-esteem, confidence and respect for themselves and for others. The ceremony is guided by our Curriculum for Restructuring the Passage Rites of  Girls (ŋansiŋ yaa karaŋo). With the introduction of the national law banning the practice in 2015, our training module now includes relevant information about the law and its penalties.

To date, 150 girls from 6 villages have celebrated our Alternative Rites of Passage for Girls.