By Our Reporter
A Community Based Organization (CBO) in Mandera County has launched a youth football tournament to propagate information on the dangers of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Habiba International Women and Youths Affairs, which is a non-profit making organization, unveiled an anti-FGM football league which brought together youths from different parts of Mandera.
Speaking at Geneva grounds in Mandera East Sub County where the league kicked off, North Eastern Football Kenya Federation representative Abdi Salam Ahmed welcomed the initiative saying through it, the youths will reject the retrogressive practice of F.G.M.
“I want to thank Habiba International Women and youths Affairs for their initiative of using sports as a tool to end FGM in our country,” said Ahmed.
He added that football had so many fans in Mandera and it’s a perfect avenue to spread information as well as combat the abusive act.
“Kindly take this message home. Let those still practicing the illegal and incredibly painful act understand the negative impact of the act on our girls and women health,” he said.
Ahmed pointed out that despite many youths being involved with sports, the government had not focused on nurturing their talents.
He urged both levels of governments to at least construct one stadium in Mandera to help nurture talents. He further requested that Geneva grounds be fenced.
Habiba Hussein, the founder of Habiba International women and Youths Affairs thanked all the stakeholders.
“I want to thank UNICEF and Anti FGM Board for helping us teach the youths about the dangers of FGM, a dangerous culture that many around here view as perfectly normal and acceptable,” she decried.
The local organization has also helped in girl child education, drought mitigation and peace building among warring clans.
