Olomayani Women’s Group
Aang Serian works in partnership with Olomayani (‘Blessings’) Women’s Group, a community-based organization based in the remote mountain village of Eluwai, northern Tanzania.  In addition to organising almost 100 Maasai women to make and market their traditional bead jewellery [link to Fair Traditions page], Olomayani is also providing basic literacy classes and health courses that help the women to take control of their own lives. 

HIV/AIDS and Female Genital Mutilation
Olomayani and Aang Serian are working closely with village-level authorities to achieve two ambitious goals - preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, and ending the agonising and dangerous practice of female genital mutilation (FGM, also called female circumcision) - in a pilot project in six villages in Monduli District.  Almost all rural Maasai girls undergo FGM, which involves cutting out the clitoris and part of the inner labia, at the age of 13-16 as a rite of passage to adulthood. The immediate effects can include haemorrhage, shock and infection, while the long-term consequences include painful and difficult childbirth, reduced sexual pleasure, and a higher risk of pelvic infections leading to infertility. This is usually followed closely by marriage, often to much older men who already have other wives.  In some communities, much younger girls and even infants are circumcised, as it is believed to cure vaginal itching.

Our approach is one of understanding the cultural reasoning behind such practises (e.g. the belief that FGM promotes fidelity within marriage) and honouring traditional values, while emphasising the very real dangers of both HIV/AIDS and FGM.  We have trained five Maasai women and four community elders as peer educators, who use role-play and song to spread the messages in a sensitive way, and are now empowering local leaders to develop their own solutions.  At the same time, we are currently seeking funds to provide a ‘safe house’ for Maasai girls fleeing FGM and/or forced marriage, enabling them to continue their education at Noonkodin School.

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We are committed to supporting ex-circumcisers who have agreed to give up practising FGM, and have provided them with capital to establish bead jewellery projects as an alternative livelihood.  In the medium to long term, we hope to establish a modified rite of passage that excludes FGM but includes many of the other aspects of the existing ceremony (e.g. special clothes, feasting and dancing), in which the former circumcisers would continue play a leading role in teaching the new initiates about reproductive health, childbirth and motherhood.  

We are grateful to the Hilden Charitable Trust, Equality Now, and all the individuals who support our FGM project.  We are still in desperate need of sponsors to help more Maasai girls to escape the double horror of FGM and forced marriage, and gain an education that will enable them to help their families and communities later.  If you can help by making a regular donation of £30 per month, or whatever you can afford, please contact the Secretary (bob@webzell.co.uk).