The NGO we have collaborated with is a non-partisan, multisectoral development initiative with good collaboration with local government. The NGO was founded nearly 20 years by a Tanzanian woman an active advocate in the Maasai empowerment groups to end FGM practice and sits on several Health Boards. Interlinking with government bodies is a key element to their ability to provide cross agency support without coming across bureaucratic issues as well as resistance from conservative opposers who do not support the change to cultural practice.

They provide a holistic approach to supporting Maasai women and girls, providing medical, educational, empowerment support as well as a rescue home for those that need to be sheltered. 

What they do: 

• The NGO provides a rescue home for any Maasai girls who needs to flee hardship in their villages by refusing forced marriage or FGM.

• Healthcare education and community awareness: 
  

• They go out to hard to reach Maasai villages to provide mobile clinics for expectant mothers, new mothers and women who have health complications from female genital mutliation (FGM)

• They service pregnant women and new mothers in the Maasai catchment area through their reproductive and child health service

• They provide a Youth Friendly Service which is a department teenage girls can privately receive support, treatment and/or contraceptive/family planning services

• They have started a women’s empowerment group aimed at eliminating female genital mutilation (FGM) practice from rural villages. 

• The group has stopped or saved over 200 girls from being mutilated

• They provide a safe haven and medical support to women and girls who have suffered severe complications after giving birth due to FGM i.e severe tears, emergency caesarians, hypovolemia, fistula’s, psychological trauma.

• The group supports mothers who do not want their daughter to go through generational trauma of FGM or forced marriage by defending and advocating for them when they are harassed or assaulted for helping their daughters escape.

• The group advocates and provides a defensive network for Maasai young girls and women who need to escape Forced or Child Marriage

Your role as a volunteer:

Volunteer to provide your time and talents to the foundation. As a Siret Volunteer, you will be mainly working at the Rescue House helping provide support to this NGO which delivers training, legal support to train women about their rights, development, basic education, basic reading and writing. You will also have the opportunity to experience their simple and rural way of life. 

Your main objectives will be:

• Support the foundation to help with the functionings of the rescue home
• Help with the daily running of the rescue house with the same duties as the girls: cleaning, cooking, baby care, helping to organise the day's schedule, food shopping and organising the week's work.
• Training workshops and support sessions: English language classes and other important remedial classes
• Support the life counselling work run by the foundation staff which encourages the women to gain empowerment and independence
• Provide your time and skills to stimulate the women's curiosity for learning and social development
• NGO management: You role as a volunteer will be to provide extra overall support of the rescue home and empowerment program for the women.This great opportunity will mean an amazing cultural exchange experience for you and a brighter opportunity for the community.