The first Godparents visiting Uganda spoke to girls at boarding schools in 1998
About the Godparents Association
Education: the way to stop FGM
In 1998 two friends, an American and a Ugandan, decided to try a new approach in combating FGM. Although the practice has been opposed by international organizations and a few grassroots NGOs for more than 30 years, female circumcision continues, and is even spreading. Rather than simply demanding that communities give up circumcising their daughters, we focused on educating and empowering the young people, who would be able to bring about changes in their cultures naturally.
Sponsors find us through word of mouth, from an Internet search, or after hearing a presentation. Some have been with us since the beginning, in 1998, sharing the achievements of their "goddaughters" each year as the girls continue to resist FGM and move through secondary school and, for some, university. Donations of unrestricted funds less than the amount needed to sponsor a girl are used to hold tutoring or motivational workshops or are pooled to pay fees for secondary-school graduates attending universities. Most of our sponsors and members are from the United States, but some live in Europe, Britain, or Australia.
The concept of godparents is hundreds of years old. Traditionally, godparents are given to a child at baptism. They stand beside the parents in raising the child and agree to take the place of parents who are unable to fulfill their responsibilities. We decided to apply this idea, without its specific religious context, so that individuals could directly and personally help girls escape FGM. Since parents in FGM-practicing societies typically will not pay school fees for daughters who refuse to undergo circumcision, we in the Godparents Association aim to take responsibility for the girls’ education.
Find new books, information, and resources about FGM.
Sponsors find us through word of mouth, from an Internet search, or after hearing a presentation. Some have been with us since the beginning, in 1998, sharing the achievements of their "goddaughters" each year as the girls continue to resist FGM and move through secondary school and, for some, university. Donations of unrestricted funds less than the amount needed to sponsor a girl are used to hold tutoring or motivational workshops or are pooled to pay fees for secondary-school graduates attending universities. Most of our sponsors and members are from the United States, but some live in Europe, Britain, or Australia.
The concept of godparents is hundreds of years old. Traditionally, godparents are given to a child at baptism. They stand beside the parents in raising the child and agree to take the place of parents who are unable to fulfill their responsibilities. We decided to apply this idea, without its specific religious context, so that individuals could directly and personally help girls escape FGM. Since parents in FGM-practicing societies typically will not pay school fees for daughters who refuse to undergo circumcision, we in the Godparents Association aim to take responsibility for the girls’ education.
Find new books, information, and resources about FGM.