Tumdo Ne Leel’ (loosely translated as ‘New Celebration’) is a concept curriculum that aims to encourage young girls and women to lead via education and current safety practices.
Susan Chebet, a former Elgeiyo Marakwet county women legislator, created and registered the curriculum in 2003 to combat the widespread cutting in the North Rift region.
“This curriculum is community-based and offers them an alternative training on all aspects in the community. It is what in the past women were taught during FGM, but now minus the cut and addition of great doses of wisdom from high achieving women who didn’t undergo the cut,” Chebet said.
“We collaborate with religious leaders, elderly women, opinion leaders, professionals and schools in training programmes held during school holidays. Many parents have embraced the concept and numbers coming to the support group are steadily going up,” says an elated Dr Chebet.
“The Constitution provides for 30 % representation of women in all public appointments. To do this, we must empower girls through education. We are winning the fight against FGM,” she said.
“Knowledge on traditional rites of passage, taboos, pregnancy, childbirth, naming, engagement, marriage and death rites are taught to the girls. Additionally, they are educated on making correct choices,” Chebet said.
Forward-thinking individuals of the community have lauded Tumdo Ne Leel’ Support Group.
