Girls’ Agenda Secures £74,996 Grant to Accelerate Fight Against FGM in The Gambia

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PC: The Girls' Agenda Ladies


A young women-led organisation, The Girls’ Agenda, on Thursday, April 17, 2026, held a virtual press briefing to inform the media about a new project aimed at combating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in The GambiaOn Thursday, April 17, 2026, a young women-led organization called The Girls' Agenda held a virtual press briefing to announce a new project aimed at combating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in The Gambia.

The project, funded by Amplify Change with a grant of £74,996, will be implemented over two years across the West Coast and North Bank Regions. It focuses on five key interventions designed to raise awareness, strengthen community engagement, and empower young people to contribute to ending this harmful practice.

During the briefing, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Mariama Sanyang emphasised that the initiative targets critical stakeholders, especially community members, to ensure collective action against FGM. She highlighted the importance of engaging the media as key partners in disseminating information about the project.

One of the outlined activities includes training religious and traditional leaders who play a significant role in shaping community norms and influencing decision-making. Sanyang pointed out that, since FGM is often linked to cultural and religious beliefs, involving these leaders is crucial for changing perceptions and promoting the abandonment of the practice.

The project will also organise family forums to foster dialogue between parents and their daughters regarding the consequences of FGM. These discussions aim to empower both parents and young girls to become agents of change within their communities.

Another major component of the project is the use of educational cartoons to raise awareness. Building on a concept introduced in 2024, the organisation will expand its reach by translating the cartoons into additional local languages, including Jola and Sarahuleh, following earlier versions in English, Mandinka, and Pulaar. The cartoons will be broadcast on national television, private media platforms, and online channels, and screened at the organisation’s Youth Safe Space.

The project is designed to deliver five key interventions focused on raising awareness, strengthening community engagement, and empowering young people to contribute to ending the harmful practice.

Speaking at the briefing, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Mariama Sanyang said the initiative targets critical stakeholders, particularly community members, to ensure collective action against FGM. She emphasised that the press engagement was crucial for bringing the media on board as key partners in disseminating information about the project.

Among the activities outlined is the training of religious and traditional leaders, who play a significant role in shaping community norms and influencing decision-making. Sanyang noted that because FGM is often linked to cultural and religious beliefs, engaging these leaders is essential to changing perceptions and promoting abandonment of the practice.

The project will also organise family forums aimed at fostering dialogue between parents and their daughters on the consequences of FGM. These discussions, she said, are intended to empower both parents and young girls to become agents of change within their communities.
Another major component is the use of educational cartoons to raise awareness. Building on a concept introduced in 2024, the organisation will expand its reach by translating the cartoons into additional local languages, including Jola and Sarahuleh, following earlier versions in English, Mandinka, and Pulaar. The cartoons will be broadcast on national television, private media platforms, and online channels, and screened at the organisation’s Youth Safe Space.

According to Sanyang, the Youth Safe Space also functions as a research and mentoring centre where adolescent boys and girls are educated on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). She added that exposing young people to information on FGM through these platforms will enable them to share knowledge with peers and families, further amplifying the campaign’s impact.

The project will additionally host an empowerment camp for 50 adolescent girls, equipping them with knowledge on SRHR and FGM. Participants are expected to act as peer educators in their schools and communities.
Another key deliverable of the initiative is the development of a sexual harassment policy, aimed at strengthening institutional safeguards and promoting safer environments for young people.

The virtual press briefing was hosted by Communications Officer Aminata Jaiteh, who reiterated the organisation’s commitment to working collaboratively with stakeholders to end FGM in The Gambia.

Author: Halimatou Ceesay

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