Final Project- "My Plan For FGM in Africa"

For my final project I decided to create a plan to further my study of Africa. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), is one issue in Africa that I am concerned about. Learning about the harmful consequences that occur with this practice is ridiculous. I think that it is a horrible practice that shouldn't be done, because I feel it violates the human rights of women. Though my plan I hope to take part is gettting rid of this horrible practice.

Part of my plan is to take a trip to Africa. It would be very expensive to visit all the counties, so I chosen just to visit Senegal and Gambia. FGM is banned in Senegal and not in Gambia. So I am very interested in learning how it is banned in one country and not the other with them being neighbouring countries. While there I plan to visit various villages in each country and conduct interviews with key community leaders, religious leaders, chiefs and others. I also want to interview women who have had the procedure done and those who have not. I think it would help my study alot to hear how they feel about it and how it affected their lives.

Besides interviewing I will also conduct surveys. Prior to taking my trip I want to survey various people here in American and find out what they think about the practice and what they think should be done. Through these surveys I will get an idea of how many people in America actually know about FGM. I know that there will be people who are not well educated on the issue, so I will use that as an opportunity to educate them.

I'm planning to take my trip on March 7-22 of next year. The total cost of my trip will be approximatly $6,000. That is a pretty high expense but I've thought of some ways to help pay for the trip. Of course having fundrasier is one way, I'll also call/write letter to different corporations, family and friends. I know that some corporations have special programs to help individuals or groups with special missions. I may seem like alot but I think it is possible to raise a nice about to help with my expenses.

After I complete my study and trip I plan on starting a organization to help fight against FGM. The mission of my organization will be to fight against FGM until a change comes. I will develop ways to educate US families as well as those in Africa on the harmful consequences of FGM. With the information that I learned, I will organize community presentations to help generate interest. One way to help my organization prosper will be to work with other organizations/programs with the same objectives. I want to do what ever I can to end this practice.

Equality Now

Female genital mutilation is one topic and issue in Africa that I am very interesting in. This is an practice that I believe should be outlawed. My reason for saying this is because I believe it violates the human rights of women. Equality Now one of many organizations addressing the issue of FGM. The organization was founded in 1992 to work for the protection and promotion of the human rights of women around the world.

Equality now has participated in many women actions to fight against FGM. They have taken part in the enactment of a law against FGM in Mali, protested the failure to enforce the law against FGM in Tanzania, and participated in ending government censorship of the campaign to stop FGM in The Gambia just to name a few.

So other positive things that the organization has done to help address the issue of FGM, is in 1997 the created Awaken. Awaken is an forum designed to facilitate communication among activists campaigning against FGM and the exchange of information, ideas, and strategies to stop the practice. In 2000, they established the Fund for Grassroots Activism to End FGM. This basically provides funds to grassroots orgainzations working to fight FGM in their communities. I think that Equality Now is a wonderful organization making a positive impact on fighting against FGM.

Johnny Mad Dog

I can actually say that this book kept my attention the whole way through. I really enjoyed reading it, I couln't put it down. One thing that I really like about it is the way the it switches between the two characters. To me that made it alittle more easier to read. I really credit Emmanuel Dongala for that. To me this book really gave me a good picture of child soldiers. As I was reading I just couldn't believe some of the things that was going on.

First let me talk about Johnny. Maybe it was just me, but from the beginning I felt he was alittle arrogant. He had sort of a confidence like he knew everything and whatever he said was right. So that's why I really didn't like him much. Laokole's story really kept my attention. When I read about how her father was killed and what happened to her mother's legs I couldn't believe it. It was crazy to read how these people were running for their lives. One thing that I like about Laokole is that she did whatever she could to take care of her mother. I could only imagine that trauma that family along with others went through.

It's like those soldiers had know heart, they wanted to prove a point. One scene that I will not forget, is the one were the soldiers shoot that little boy while he was on his knees. I thought that was so cold blooded an innocent little boy lost his life for nothing. That was the scence that I knew that they were some cold hearted people. Overall I think this was a really good book.