Tarime girls cautioned to be aware of genital cuts

SOME victims of child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) have benefited from a four-day entrepreneurship and business management training in Tarime District of Mara Region. Organizers of the training said about 30 out-of-school girls from two rural wards of Nyamwaga and Matongo were targeted. The training, which was held last week in Tarime district , was jointly organized by Plan International Tanzania and Children’s Dignity Forum (CDF) with the support of the European Union (EU). The training was provided by facilitators from Small Industry Development Organization (SIDO) Mara Regional Office in Musoma. SIDO Regional Manager Ms Frida Mungulu hailed the training saying that it will help to uplift the living conditions of the young women. 

A razor blade and a traditional knife are most common tools used for female genital mutilation.

She said by working in groups, the beneficiaries will make a big change in their lives. According to her, investing in small industries is essential on poverty reduction in the country. The young women welcomed the initiative and promised to make good use of the opportunity as well as continuing to create awareness against child marriage, teenage pregnancies and FGM in their areas. The project officer from CDF, Ms Kambibi Kamugisha, said the participants were also trained on production of soap and disinfectants. “Most of the participants are victims of forced FGM, child marriage and teenage pregnancies. We believe they will be able to sustain their lives and support their families”, she said. “We also expect them to assist other girls who have faced similar problems”, she added. CDF is a local non-governmental organization leading on-going campaigns designed to end child marriage, teenage pregnancies and FGM in the region with Tarime being the most targeted place.