24 new community based facilitators from Kombo South have obtained certificates  on completion of a three-day intensive training on Rights Education as part of  the campaign to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation and other harmful traditional practices affecting the health and rights of children and women.

The objective of the training is to empower the Community Based Facilitators with the right information to advocate against FGM, childrens' and women rights in their communities. This training is part of the recently lunched GAMCOTRAP Save the Children UNIFEM project for 2010-2012 in the Kombos, Western Region on Eradicating Harmful Traditional Practices through Rights Education.In presenting the certificates at the closing ceremony, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of GAMCOTRAP, Honourable Sedia Jatta asserted that he was impressed  with the passion, articulation and conviction of the participants.

He noted that to change people the advocates have to be convinced that they can bring the desired change first. He called on them to work with commitment to bring about the anticipated change and advised them to be humble, exercise tolerance and patience  and listen to others in other to learn from each other. Honourable Jatta cautioned them that change is not easy, because awareness creation and education are vital to empowering people.  He finally advised them to take the training as an inspiration to further seek knowledge,especially  in matters  of religion in order to  make valid and constructive arguments in that regard  because it is knowledge that transforms the world.

Speaking earlier the Executive Director of GAMCOTRAP, Dr. Isatou Touray, advised the participants to develop the love for reading  to upgrade their skills to enable them to deal with developmental issues in their various communities. Dr. Touray called on them to be youths of substance and commended them for going through the rigorous  training that earned them their certificates. She emphasised the importance of education because the lack of education amongst girls in our communities has been reflected in the gender bias in the representation amongst the participants and as future parents they should take responsibility  of educating  girls to close the gender disparity.

She reminded them that they were identified by their Village Development Communities, Alkalolu and  their organizations in Kombo South to represent them amongst many others, therefore it is a responsibility they have committed themselves. to engage and facilitate open discussions on Female Genital Mutilation and other harmful traditional practices, gender based violence and rights of children in their various communities.In his vote of thanks on behalf of his colleagues, Ousman Jammeh of Janbanjelly said the end of the training should be  a new beginning of their commitment and called on the Community Based Facilitators to know their direction because they know what to achieve. He acknowledged that they have been provided with the knowledge they need to be able to deliver.

He concluded that "Knowledge speaks and wisdom listens" and pledged  for their support to GAMCOTRAP.The training looked at concepts of rights education in relation to the protection of the rights of children, women and the other vulnerable groups. It also included understanding the health effects of FGM and religious arguments to protect  the girl-child from the Harmful traditional practices as well as communication skills and community mobilization strategies to reach out to people.

In his contribution to the training, the National Coordinator of Child Protection Alliance, Njunda Drammeh emphasised child protection in our communities and the responsibility different stakeholder have to encourage and listen to the voices of children in their best interest to ensure the survival, development and non discrimination amongst children.

Dilating on the Medical Effects of Female Genital Mutilation, Senior Progrmme Office for gender and Health at the Ministry of Health, Mrs. Fatou Camara informed participants that the Ministry has now taken up FGM in its Reproductive and Child Health Programme and have started training Community Health Nurses and Traditional Birth Attendants to be aware of the medical effects FGM has on women and their babies during child birth. Mrs. Camara said since the international Conference on Population and Development held in Cairo in 1994, the Ministry has taken the commitment to improve reproductive health. She expressed appreciation for the pioneering and the leadership GAMCOTRAP has taken to address  harmful traditional practices and FGM in particular.

According to the participants, the training has given them confidence, information and knowledge  to share with their communities and win them over to protect girls from FGM and protect the rights of children and  to stop violence against women.The outcome of the training included a plan of action by the Community Based Facilitators and  a commitment to engage in the project implementation in the Western Region,  specifically  in the Kombos. The participants reported on the plan of action they drew up regarding community intervention and communication strategies to reach out to their various communities in the Kombos.
Source: Gamcotrap