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Young people in a Bilis Initiative workshop holding truth and falsehood cards
What We Do

Building a future where every girl is safe and empowered.

Our work is rooted in community trust and survivor voices. We focus on long-term systemic change through education, dialogue, and advocacy.

What we do

Our programmes

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Girl Power Programme
Education
Girl Power Programme

Equipping adolescent girls with life skills, knowledge of their rights, and the confidence to speak up — in school, at home, and in their communities.

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Community & Family Dialogue
Engagement
Community & Family Dialogue

Bringing together families, religious leaders, and men to open honest conversations about FGM — and to build shared commitments to end it.

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Policy & Legal Advocacy
Advocacy
Policy & Legal Advocacy

Pushing for the enforcement of laws and policies against FGM, and amplifying survivor voices at local, national, and international levels.

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Our method

How we drive community change

Change is built from within. Our approach is designed for trust, participation, and long-term sustainability.

01

Community Assessment

We begin by understanding the cultural and social dynamics of each village through local leadership.

02

Survivor-Led Dialogue

Honest conversations led by survivors focus on shared values of health, safety, and empowerment.

03

Youth Empowerment

Adolescent girls receive life-skills training and support that builds confidence and agency.

04

Public Declaration

Communities declare their commitment to ending FGM and establish new norms of protection.

Our Approach

How we create lasting change

We believe that ending FGM requires more than just awareness; it requires a fundamental shift in social norms and community beliefs.

Our strategy is built on four pillars: engagement with traditional and religious leaders, empowerment of the next generation, strengthening legal protections, and providing safe referral paths for girls at risk.

Why our method works

  • Internal Dialogue

    We facilitate conversations within families, not just external lectures.

  • Religious Alignment

    We work with religious leaders to clarify that FGM has no basis in faith.

  • Youth Leadership

    We train young girls to be the primary advocates in their own schools.

Our objectives

Five pillars of change

01
Awareness & behaviour change through media

Using powerful media to shift public understanding and drive meaningful change in attitudes toward FGM.

02
Adolescent girl empowerment

Giving girls knowledge, life skills, and the confidence to know and demand their rights.

03
Family & community engagement

Involving families, religious leaders, and men as partners in protection — online and offline.

04
Protection & referral systems

Strengthening community-based networks so girls at risk have safe paths to support and safety.

05
Legal & policy advocacy

Advocating for laws to be enforced, and ensuring that protection on paper becomes protection in practice.

Resources

Tools for communities

Practical materials that help communities build safer, more empowering environments for girls.

Community Training Toolkit

A practical guide for community leaders facilitating dialogue on FGM and social norms.

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Annual Impact Report 2024

Insights into our programmes, reach, and the measurable progress communities are making.

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Survivor Voices Series

Stories and perspectives from survivors leading behavioural change in their villages.

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