By: Audrey Raymonda John
Girl Child Network Sierra Leone (GCN-SL), in collaboration with PURPOSEFUL, has launched a significant awareness campaign in the Magbap Community of Makeni City, aimed at ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Sierra Leone. The campaign focuses on encouraging community-led solutions and advocating for safer alternatives to FGM.
The campaign was led by Anita Koroma, Executive Director of GCN-SL, who highlighted the organization’s ongoing efforts to assess and address FGM across the country. Koroma stressed the importance of involving local leaders and residents to achieve lasting change.
“We must understand the realities on the ground to provide real solutions,” she said. “Our mission is clear: empowering communities to transition away from harmful practices and ensuring the safety of girls throughout Sierra Leone.”
The visit received strong support from the community, with Zainab Kamara, a respected community leader and Sowe Woman in Magbenteh, welcoming the delegation and expressing gratitude for the intervention.
“This is a battle we cannot fight alone,” Kamara stated. “Your visit reminds us that we are not forgotten in this struggle.”
Other community leaders emphasized the importance of raising awareness and working together to end FGM. Salamatu Bangura, Chief of the Mathinka Community, praised the campaign as a turning point, highlighting the need for unity and dedication in the fight against harmful practices.
Lindsey Sesay, representing PURPOSEFUL, underscored the long-term consequences of FGM and urged the community to break the silence surrounding the issue.
“Together, we can dismantle the silence and empower communities to protect their girls,” Sesay said.
The campaign promotes “Bloodless Mitigation,” an alternative method that prevents the health risks associated with FGM. This approach aligns with GCN-SL’s broader goal of eliminating harmful customs through advocacy, education, and community-driven alternatives.
Koloneh Sesay, a prominent Sowe lady in Makeni and vocal opponent of FGM, was among those supporting the campaign. She has been involved in initiation rituals for over 30 years and now calls on her secret society colleagues to end these practices.
“I have changed my views on FGM, and I am proud to see more people joining this vital fight,” she told the crowd.
The GCN-SL and PURPOSEFUL teams reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Sierra Leonean communities by providing resources and engaging with leaders to drive long-term change.
The delegation included senior GCN-SL personnel such as Nathaniel Alie Bangura (Program Manager), Abdul Bangura (Field Officer), and Sorie Bangura (Assistant Program Manager).
This initiative in the Magbap Community marks another significant step toward a future where young girls in Sierra Leone can grow up in an environment free from the dangers of FGM, with their rights, dignity, and well-being fully protected.