“I absolutely do not want the same for my daughters.”

At five in the morning, Joyce Onyiego’s day begins. Living in the village of Gekora in Kenya, Joyce has a typical day ahead: she ensures that the children cross the river safely to get to school, returns to feed the cow, and tends to her small farm. The maize she grows is for her family’s consumption, but she sells local vegetables.

As a mother of four, Joyce is accustomed to a lively family life. However, the realities for boys and girls within her family are very different. In Kisii culture, boys are expected to grow up as providers for their families, while girls are raised to fulfill the role of a mother—a proper woman who nurtures, does housework, and undergoes female genital mutilation (FGM).

Female genital mutilation is a cultural practice performed in over 30 countries worldwide. It involves harming external genitalia by cutting or removing parts. There is no medical justification for FGM; instead, it has significant health consequences that can last a lifetime. Mothers and grandmothers often uphold this tradition, but boys and men play a critical role in opposing it by defending girls’ right to refuse.

Joyce is proud her daughter has not been mutilated

Joyce herself was nine years old when she was subjected to FGM. She is proud that her 20-year-old daughter has not undergone the practice. Her nieces have also avoided it, thanks to Joyce’s efforts to spread awareness against FGM. She has vowed that her youngest daughter will not face it either.

“My daughters will not be mutilated. I live with the consequences of FGM every day, and I absolutely do not want the same for my daughters,” she says. Joyce shares that FGM has caused her infections, fears, physical pain, and challenges in her sexual life.

CECOME, the Kenyan partner organization of Solidaarisuus, has played a significant role in eliminating violence against women in Gekora. According to Joyce, awareness needs to be spread, particularly in community meetings, schools, and churches. Pediatricians, village elders, and chiefs are speaking out against FGM. Most importantly, parents are educated about children’s rights so they can advocate against gender-based violence.

Violence is taken more seriously

“My child is mine, so I make the decision about whether she is mutilated,” Joyce says, adding that “the stigma around not undergoing FGM is fading.” Sometimes, girls who are not mutilated face discrimination or have their ‘purity’ questioned.

“Much work has been done in this area.” Today, women are allowed to participate in discussions and decision-making at community gatherings—something that wasn’t possible before. Women now know they have equal rights and freedoms.

CECOME’s training has also covered other aspects of family life, including parenting and non-violent approaches. Joyce is a living testament to the power of this work. She says she has learned tools to handle difficult emotions. “Our financial situation has also improved, which has brought real peace,” she adds with relief. Discussions about FGM and other forms of gender-based violence are now more open. “If only CECOME’s work had started earlier.”