Safe Hands for Girls (SHG) is a survivor-led, nonprofit organization which was established in 2013 to combat female genital mutilation and child marriage. SHG conducts activities in The Gambia, Sierra Leone, and The United States, addressing gender-based violence and other forms of discrimination which impact women and girls. Its programs focus on economic empowerment, education, and poverty alleviation, recognizing the strong link between these issues and the rights of women and girls. The organization also engages in advocacy at the local, national, and international levels to raise awareness on FGM and child marriage, using its grassroots expertise to influence change on a broader scale.
More than 230 million women and girls alive today have undergone female genital mutilation, most often before they turn 15. Each year, 3 million girls are at risk due to factors such as poverty and cultural norms. In communities where it is practiced, FGM is often seen as a rite of passage before marriage, and families may believe FGM increases a girls’ value in dowries when she marries. As such, there is a strong link between FGM and child marriage, and many girls are forced to marry shortly after experiencing FGM. In The Gambia and Sierra Leone, where SHG implements programs, FGM rates are among the highest in the world, with 73 and 83 percent of girls having undergone the practice in each country respectively.
The Girls Opportunity Alliance Fund will support SHG’s education and economic empowerment program in The Gambia. The organization will provide educational opportunities and vocational training to girls and their mothers on climate-friendly, agricultural practices. The project’s theory of change is guided a recognition that poverty, FGM, and child marriage are inextricably linked. It aims to disrupt a common cycle in which girls experience FGM, are subsequently married, and then are unable to complete school, limiting their potential. SFG will also provide training to mothers on preventing FGM, equipping them with the knowledge and language they need to push back against the practice in their homes and communities.
SHG expects to directly support 100 girls and their mothers for a total of 200 women and girls served. Its project aims to address the systemic causes of FGM and child marriage while contributing to changes in social norms and attitudes. As an end goal, SHG hopes to increase girls’ access to opportunities, enabling them to break free of cyclical poverty and pursue their greater dreams and ambitions.
To learn more about SHG, please visit the organization’s website and social media pages:
See more projects: Africa, Child Marriage, Gender-based Violence, Safe Spaces