This campaign has now closed
This programme is a partnership between Tolerance International UK and Global Mission Services in Kenya. The mission of the Cheptoo Initiative is to contribute to the human dignity of African people through the development and implementation of a non-formal participatory socio-cultural education programme in national languages.
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It provides learners with the knowledge and skills to become confident, resourceful actors in the social transformation and economic development of their communities. It is focussed on important cross-cutting themes that include building local ownership against the cross border conflicts and harmful cultural practices, taking the Alternative Rite of Passage programmes to scale; and developing the capacity of community-level partners. It aims to protect 9 to 18 year old girls against female genital mutilation (FGM) that symbolises the advent of womanhood and subsequently leads to forced early marriage. It aims to influence or change the customs and traditions that perpetuate these practices. Sexual activity begins very early, a substantial proportion of which is coerced first and subsequent sex based on skewed gender power relations that are prone to exacerbating the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The programme uses and provides an Alternative Rite of Passage from girlhood into womanhood in a traditionally acceptable and recognisable manner without recourse to FGM.