The Maasai-like many communities in Africa- revere certain traditions, many of which have been passed down for
eons. Central among these traditions is the attitude towards the girl/woman in the Maasai society and particularly the interrelated practices of child bride and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Maasai girls undergo FGM from the age of ten years and upwards. After undergoing this painful operation, they are considered to be adults and can therefore be married off in exchange of cows-which are highly prized in this pastoral people. Though against the law in Kenya, FGM is compulsory in some Kenyan communities and marriage withing the community cannot take place for one who has not undergone the ritual. The operation of FGM exposes the girl to various health(physiological, mental and psychological)complications.

The Operation has also been cited as a determinant in the spread of HIV. The use of the same equipment during the FGM operations facilitates HIV/AIDS/STD transmission. Since the operation is normally a social ritual, there are many girls being operated and sterilizing of equipment cannot simply occur. The girls who undergo FGM are married off immediately-mostly to older men who have the wealth for dowry- and here again they are likely to be married by infected people.

FGM is therefore a violation of the rights of girls according to international law. There can be no justification
to continue in a practice that harms, traumatizes and closes opportunities for girls.

Female Genital Mutilation Prevention and Child Marriages prevention Program Seek to:

• Rescue girls from female genital mutilation and early forced marriages
• Rescue boys and girls from child labor force
• Rescue orphans and child parents at rick of being abused