PREFACE

Over the past five years, FORWARD, a UK Diaspora African women-led not-for-profit organization, has implemented a ground-breaking new initiative called TuWezeshe Akina dada. Its intensive, feminist leadership training aims to inspire a generation of young African change-makers to undertake social and civil action to tackle FGM and other forms of VAWG in their communities. TuWezeshe is a Swahili term for 'empowering our sisters.' The 1-year leadership programme nurtures upcoming young women leaders and advocates while amplifying their voices. It has run successfully in the UK, continental Europe, and across five African countries, helping to build a movement of feminist change-makers in Africa and among the diaspora.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, an opportunity was presented to scale up the innovative TuWezeshe young women's leadership programme.. Dubbed Accelerating African-Led FGM Change Makers, this timely initiative was a collaboration between FORWARD and Akili Dada, a young women's leadership incubator [Kenya], as well as the End FGM European Network [Brussels] and Think Young Women [the Gambia], with support from UN Spotlight Programme.

In Kenya, 25 young women participated in this leadership fellowship programme. After attending virtual and in-person training sessions led by FORWARD and Akili Dada, the young women were provided with sub-grants, leadership mentoring, and well-being support. They went on to collectively implement multiple social action projects on FGM, targeting six Kenyan counties: Elgeyo Marakwet, Garissa, Kajiado, Kisii, Tana River, and Samburu.

The Unsung Sheroes publication seeks to showcase the journeys of female activists of different ages in Kenya and TuWezeshe Fellows.; We hope their positive stories of change can help us understand Kenya's challenges, hopes, and opportunities to bring about sustained change. Kenya is one of the few countries in Africa with a stable government and the legal support needed to tackle FGM, where FGM prevalence has significantly reduced to 15%. For this reason, it is a beacon of hope for seeing the end of FGM within our generation.

Trigger Warning

This publication highlights personal experiences related to FGM and its various adverse side effects. Please be mindful of this and possible triggers in the following pages.