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From the CEOs desk

The Newsletter team FGM has been practiced for many years in Asian countries like the Middle East and Indonesia. It is even being practiced in immigrant communities in the UK, Dublin, Canada and United States of America. However, the worst cases can be seen in African countries like Nigeria. Unfortunately, it is very hard to put an end to this practice because there is a culture of silence surrounding the ritual. There are obvious dangers of the culture of silence that shroud the prevention of FGM in a veil of religious taboo. Many women in Nigeria have been taught that this ritual is a good thing for women to do and is even for their good health. This is far from the truth as many infections arise from these female circumcisions. There are often mental problems, intimacy situations and even deaths arising from this practice. There is a culture of silence among victims of this ritual, especially if the entire external genitals have been eradicated, because they have a deep sense of self loathing. This can affect their marital life and cause a lot of mental suffering. However, Deltawomen and other organizations for womens rights are working on breaking the culture of silence so that this ritual gets banned. This is not easy as many Nigerian politicians will not speak out as they do not want to embroil themselves in this issue. Some tribal regions have a greater rate of FGM than others but the worst cases can still be observed in Nigeria. The culture of silence must be broken in order to liberate the women in Nigeria from these practices. Not only legislation but also education must play a role to stop these injustices. Women need to be educated about their rights as human beings and the health risks to themselves and their children, which this practice causes. have calculated profit and loss statements while your child is having their tonsils removed. Womens empowerment works well in child rearing days. Stay Strong, Be beautiful, keep courage and feel the power! AUGUST 2012 Elsie Ijorogu-Reed CEO: Organizing Editor: Writers and Contributors: Elsie Ijorogu-Reed Kirthi Jayakumar Achilla Imchen Carmen Sanchez Obi Madukoma Rohit Kumar Stephanie Smith Tiera Schneider

Printed and Published as an Online Newsletter by Deltawomen NGO.

Contents The Malpractice of Female Genital Mutilation.....Rohit Kumar FGM: where does it occur, and why?....................................................Achilla Imchen Attitudes towards Female Genital Mutilation. Stephanie Smith Ifrahs StoryElsie Reed and Kirthi Jayakumar Technology: A World of Economic Opportunity for Nigerian Women ....................Carmen Sanchez My Body, My Heart: Elsies Story.Obi Madukoma Campaign Round-up Volunteer of the Month

The Malpractice of Female Genital Mutilation By Rohit Kumar There are many reasons behind this practice in Nigeria, which are seemingly embedded in culture and social conventions. These range from the psychosexual (to maintain chastity and virginity before marriage) and sociological/cultural (initiation rites into womanhood, cultural identity, social acceptance) to hygiene and aesthetics (among some societies, the external female genitals are considered unclean and unsightly). In every society where FGM is present, however, the practice is fundamentally a manifestation of gender inequality deeply entrenched in social, economic and political structures. Attitudes towards Female Genital Mutilation By Stephanie Smith

Male dominance and female subjugation throughout history, culture/tradition has been invoked to justify abhorrent and inhuman practices of female genital mutilation. A practice that thrives in at least 28 African countries for many decades, now, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a painful procedure and has several long-term psychological and physical consequences. Oftentimes, it is carried out with reasons such as religious and traditional considerations, that it is for the betterment of womens health, hygiene, fertility, prevents and controls libido which, some claim, make women faithful wives. But the actual picture is different. According to the World Health Organization, FGM has no health benefits. It only harms women, through severe pain, shock, hemorrhage, tetanus or sepsis (bacterial infection), urine retention, and even long-term recurrent bladder and urinary tract infections, cysts, infertility and increased risk of childbirth complications and newborn deaths. Socially, uncircumcised women cannot be accepted unless she undergoes the operation. FGM is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. It reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women. The lack of law and the prevalence of religious personal beliefs in many practicing countries make the situation very difficult to handle. FGM is a social convention - one that imposes a social pressure to conform to what others do and have been doing is a strong motivation to perpetuate the practice. It is often considered a necessary part of raising a girl properly, and a way to prepare her for adulthood and marriage. The World Health Organization with the United Nations Childrens Fund and United Nations Population Fund issued a joint statement, highlighting the human rights and legal dimensions of the problem. Kenya became a flag bearer for Africa by making FGM illegal. But the practice still thrives, especially in Nigeria. Research shows that, if communities themselves decide to abandon FGM, the practice can be eliminated rapidly. FGM: where does it occur, and why? Achilla Imchen FGM is most prevalent in the western, eastern, and northeastern regions of Africa. It is practiced in about 28 African countries, and 91.5 million girls and women above 9 years old in Africa are currently living with its consequences. Nigeria in the past had the highest absolute number of cases of FGM in the world, amounting for about one quarter of the estimated 115-130 million circumcised women in the world. (UNICEF Nigeria 2008)
NIGERIA: KNOWLEDGE AND PREVALENCE OF FGM Zones Percentage of Women who have heard of FGM 36.0 40.1 25.1 87.7 82.5 85.7 Source: UNICEF Nigeria 2008. Percentage Women Circumcised 9.6 1.3 0.4 40.8 34.7 56.9 of

North Central North East North West South East South South South West

Nigeria still has one of the highest occurrences of FGM in the world equaling of approximately 130 million women worldwide, according to a UNICEF statistic. Local support of the practice is unevenly distributed, with an average of 27% of people in southern Nigeria favouring the continuation of the practice, whilst on average only 8% people in the north feel the same way. Reasons and attitudes for the practice vary widely, but they come down to three core reasons: Traditional practices Religious beliefs A pressure to conform The religious and traditional reasons are intrinsically tied together. Many people believe that FGM is needed to control a girls sexual desires and insure her purity. Promoters of FGM often consider those who dont believe in the practice as mindless and lustful consumed with the thoughts of sexual gratification. Delta Women begs to differ, as there are several women from our organization who havent had FGM and we have successfully put out several newsletters despite our apparent lustiness. Others still, knowing the health complications (such as tetanus, sepsis, a risk for developing HIV, infertility and frequent bladder infections) that can arise from FGM, continue the practice due to a pressure to conform. As one study puts it, a circumcised female would have better marriage prospects. In other words, daughters are seen as more desirable; therefore, better marriage material, but those who do not, would find it more difficult to get married. Many of these beliefs are based on hearsay and misrepresentations. A UN Study conducted in 2003 on women and mens attitudes to FGM show some interesting results. Approximately 2/3 of the women believe the practice should be discontinued. Two-thirds of men in Nigeria also believe that female circumcision should be discontinued. The most common reasons for both men and women advocating the discontinuation of FGM are the avoidance of pain, for fewer medical problems and for a better and healthier sex life. The women interviewed in this study all had some form of FGM done to them and came from various parts of Nigeria. Women in the Delta State do not need to conform to the idea of FGM. Studies have shown that attitudes are changing, albeit, slowly. What is needed is more education on the long term health complications that arise from FGM. Only with persistent advocating can we spare millions of young women from the pain and trauma that comes with the practice of female genital mutilation.

places. Join us in our fight against the crime. Join the Ifrah Ahmed Foundation. Join Deltawomen. Ifrahs Story By Elsie Ijorogu-Reed & Kirthi Jayakumar, with inputs from Ifrah Ahmed A girl like Ifrah Ahmed is one of a kind. Independent, inspiring, resilient, and courageous these superlatives are terribly inadequate to describe the strong willed girl. Transcending into being a survivor, Ifrah was a victim of Female Genital Mutilation. Ifrah was a young girl in Somalia, and like many a girl of her age and before, she was subjected to the filthy malpractice of female genital mutilation. Somalias political situation deteriorated steadily, and Ifrahs family saw prudence in sending her away to safety. The young girl was scared and alone when she first set foot in Ireland. Taken into care by the HSE since she was under 18, Ifrahs challenges were far from over. From the initial struggle to find a means to communicate in English, to waiting until the refugee status was confirmed, hurdles came her way aplenty. The brave girl jumped them all with lan. Ifrah was an optimist in every sense of the term. She turned every obstacle into an opportunity, and met people to make sure her skills were buffed to perfection. And when she found her feet, she was the beacon of light for many. Having started off with a youth group called the Integration of African Children of Ireland (IACI), Ifrah recognized how she was the subject of criticism by the people of the Somalian community. Her people didnt like that she was not behaving according to Somalian cultural norms. But she stood tall and firm in her convictions. Ifrahs trajectory in combating FGM started when she found that the practice was wrong. When she went for a couple of medical examinations, doctors were shocked to see her state they were not aware of the practice in entirety. But this was normal for Ifrah and girls like her and her community and peers had grown up, putting up with it. Their reactions shocked her. When Ifrah did her research, she understood how wrong it was, that there were groups campaigning against it, that she could be a part of putting an end to it. Ifrah then decided to be the conduit for information, the catalyst for change. She began fighting to make FGM illegal in Ireland and adopted her own approach to tackling the issue. Ifrah gathered young girls from African backgrounds. She ran fashion shows to highlight FGM. She soon started her own youth group, the United Youth of Ireland (UYI) with the support of Catholic Youth Care (CYC). Ifrah spoke, Ifrah wrote, Ifrah campaigned, Ifrah fought. And Ifrah Ahmed WON. The survivor showed the world when her untiring efforts, along with several others fights as well, successfully resulted in the passage of a Law in Ireland that penalized the crime. Today, the practice is a crime in Ireland, the process of taking girls outside Ireland to get them to undergo the practice, is a crime. Ireland has spoken. And it is because of Ifrah and her comrades. But the sordid saga continues. Girls are still subjected to it in Nigeria, in Somalia, in India, DR Congo, Tajikistan, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan... and so many

My Body, My Heart: Elsies Story By Obi Madukoma You are young, vibrant, full of energy, and your body is beginning to change. Youve seen the first signs of your menses and youre getting better at feigning disinterest when your mom lectures you on boys. You are now becoming a woman, she says and then goes on to tell you how a woman must behave. You are no longer a child, yet you are not fully a woman. This is the time when women teach their girls vital lessons of womanhood. Sadly, this is also the time when some cultures choose to mutilate their girls. One of such girls was our very own Elsie Ijorogu Reed. Elsie had gone to visit her grandmother whom she loved so much, and was having the time of her life. One day, her grandma invited her to a party. Eager to show off her new outfit, Elsie dressed up quickly and soon they were on their way. On getting to the venue, instead of sounds of music, laughter, and merriment, she heard sounds of horror. In Elsies own words, her heart was filled with pains of betrayal when she realized that the she was to attend a party whose guests were frowning people, dirty stools, huge men and screaming bloodied girls. That day, Elsie was violated. Her dignity was torn to shreds. Her body had been damaged by strangers, but her heart had been broken by one whom she loved dearly. Today, that young girl is speaking up. She is challenging all women to let their voices be heard. For centuries, women have endured silently pain, shame, disease, and some even die all in the name of tradition. But today, Elsie is saying enough is enough. We must speak up for women all over the world. We must speak up for what is right. Reference: Elsie Ijorogu Reeds speech at the celebration of the ban on female genital mutilation on June 15th 2012 at Dublin, Ireland. Technology: A World of Economic Opportunity for Nigerian Women By Carmen Sanchez Nigeria-based researcher Olaoye Ismail Kayode (2009) found that the information and communication technologies (ICT) industry offers women in Nigeria an exceptional opportunity to achieve economic empowerment. ICT has increased the possibilities of what people can accomplish exponentially. The internet enables international employers to seek out employees, based around the world, who are ready to help them turn these possibilities into realities. Why not learn about several types of ICT job opportunities and how you can use the internet to gain the education and training that will enable you to be financially independent? Data entry professional work is straight forward. You type data into a spreadsheet or a database. The employer might provide you with the data they want you to transfer over to a

spreadsheet or database. Alternatively, you might also be asked to perform the research required to find the data they seek. Either way you will need to know how to use the particular spreadsheet or database program (for example, Microsoft Excel or Access). You will also need to know how to type information quickly and accurately using a keyboard because many data entry jobs require that you complete the task within a specific time. You might work at a local office or from home. On the other hand, the project manager (PM) or team leader (TL) role requires leadership as well as technical skills. As a PM or TL, you may be asked to develop and update a project plan using Microsoft Project or other type of project planning software. You might be using Microsoft Outlook to schedule team teleconferences as well as distribute the ongoing updates to the project plan. You would lead team meetings and survey each contributor regarding the time and resources required to accomplish his/her particular deliverable for the project. You would provide ongoing progress reports to management. Your technical knowledge and skills may be called upon when discussing the feasibility of a given project scope in the context of available human and budgetary resources. You might work at a local office or from home. You can leverage free online education resources to train for data entry, PM, or TL roles, as well as many other types of job opportunities within the ICT industry. Microsoft offers a Digital Literacy Curriculum which reviews computer fundamentals, including searching for information on the internet. The International Commission on Workforce Development provides access to an extensive selection of certification-level training courses. The Digital Literacy Portal provides a listing of links to many other sources of free online ICT education and training. If you have a daughter interested in exploring ICT careers, take a look at the International Girls in ICT Day website for educational opportunities and rewarding competitions. Being prepared to take advantage of the opportunities to become an economically independent woman and inspiring girls to grow up to do the same is just a few taps of the computer keyboard away You CAN do it!! Find out more! The Microsoft Curriculum: http://www.microsoft.com/About/CorporateCitizenship/Citize nship/giving/programs/UP/digitalliteracy/default.mspx) The International Commission on Workforce Development http://www.icwfd.org/elearning_portal.html The Digital Literacy Portal http://www.ictliteracy.info/ICT-Training.htm International Girls Day http://girlsday.org.ng/girlsinict/ The Delta Women Digital Media Education Project http://deltawomeneuniversity.wufoo.com/forms/deltawomen -euniversity-application-form

The DeltaWomen Digital Media Education Project Being an organization devoted to the goal of supporting and empowering women to become complete women, Deltawomen serves to contribute to the all round well being and success of women by shaping her Mind, Body and Spirit! In pursuit of these goals, Deltawomen will be offering online Courses in the following disciplines: Self-Help and Development: This course will offer you a personal guide to grooming yourself, developing your softskills and interpersonal skills. Each month will comprise a different accentuation, and will work on different aspects. The courses can be tailor made to suit any specific issues you wish to address. Dance: This course will offer you lessons in six styles of dance (Bollywood, Hiphop, Jazz, Contemporary, Salsa and Jive). Each month will involve a different dance style, and you will have six choreography routines to your credit at the end of the period. Arts and Crafts: This course will offer you lessons in Origami, Jewellery making, Bead making, Cooking, Painting, utility-craft making and in a wide range of creative endeavours akin to these. The course will require you to get your own materials, though the lessons themselves will be provided by us. Languages: This course will offer you lessons in helping you develop speaking, writing and reading skills in English, French, Basic Spanish, Hindi and Bahasa Indonesian. The program will be spread over six months and teach you basic speaking, writing and reading in the language of your choice from the above set. Entrepreneurial Skills: This program will inculcate business skills and a learning routine that will teach you the ABCs and more, of starting and running a successful business. These courses will comprise online sessions through Skype and our e-learning platform, along with written material wherever applicable. Students will be coached online along with video demonstrations. The courses will be spread over a span of six months. Those interested in being a part of this program are welcome to send an email to eUniversity@deltawomen.org with the course they wish to take.

Delta Womens Free Eye-Test Campaign Delta Womens Eye-Test Campaign: Delta Women Presented its free Eye-Check Campaign on August 25, 2012 in Okuijorogu Delta Womens Eye-Test Campaign: A patient getting his eye checked by the doctor.

Delta Womens School Supply Campaign

Delta Womens School Supply Campaign: Elsie at the Counter

Delta Womens School Supply Campaign: Little Gabby is excited about the event

Delta Womens Eye-Test Campaign: Glasses for distribution based on prescriptions of each visitor.

Delta Womens School Supply Campaign: Elsie and Angela at the Counter

Delta Womens Eye-Test Campaign: Reading it right with the glasses!

Delta Womens Eye-Test Campaign: An elderly lady getting her eyes checked by the doctor.

Campaign Round Up NO WOMAN LEFT BEHIND! At Delta women NGO, we see ourselves as a partner for progress to our women. We work with them to discover their unique abilities, talents and potentials. Our drive is to build in our women the essential skills required to do business in a world class way, making them creators of their own destiny and pillars of transformation in our society. The "NO WOMAN LEFT BEHIND" campaign needs YOUR support. Help Deltawomen by providing women the Technical and Vocational Skills Acquisition to overcome the challenges in todays world so that they can be useful to themselves rather than be used as agents of violence. FREE EYE TEST The Deltawomen Eye-Care Campaign in the Delta State serves to provide free glasses and eye check-ups. Our sponsors have helped us by providing 466 glasses! In Okuijorogu, a total number of one hundred and forty six persons were examined, screened, at of which 86 prescription glasses given out for free after Deltawomen's Optometrist test, while 29 patients were refereed accordingly. Our free eye test event is to be held Obiaruku on September 15, 2012. To further reassure the people of Obiaruku community of our commitment to the free eye programme, Deltawomen on August 18, 2012 paid a courtesy visit to the High Chiefs in Obiaruku in Ukwuani LGA Delta State.

WELCOME, NEW VOLUNTEERS! Deltawomen welcomes 17 new volunteers, who join our team this month to work on our various projects. PRESIDENTIAL SERVICE AWARD WINNERS Deltawomen announced on August 22, 2012, that it has awarded 5 volunteers with the PRESIDENTS VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD, a national honor offered in recognition of volunteer service. Established in 2003, the AWARD is available on an annual basis to individuals, groups and families who have met or exceeded requirements for volunteer service and have demonstrated exemplary citizenship through volunteering. As one of thousands of Certifying Organizations participating in the AWARD program, Deltawomen confers the award to recognize the outstanding achievements of its volunteers, and honors the following volunteers: Dr. Aakshi Kalra (Bronze) Elaheh Zohrevandi (Bronze, Silver, Gold) Kirthi Jayakumar (Bronze, Silver, Gold) Simisola Ogun (Bronze, Silver) Lylin Aguas (Bronze) VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH DeltaWomen selects Cecilia Newman as Volunteer of the month of August! Her contributions to designing and maintaining Delta Womens online collaborations have made Deltawomens activities all the more successful. CONGRATULATIONS!

Deltawomen serves:
To initiate policy changes to maximize opportunities and equality for women. To associate with other women related NGOs whose visions and services are at the centre of public attention and for women benefit. To build the capacity of women to escape poverty and deprivation through self-sustaining by empowerment and education. To play a critical role in securing inclusive growth for women. To meet the needs of the women by wealth creation. To empower women by capacity building.