Travel with Us - A Photo Journey Visiting HGWT (Part 2)
(Disclaimer - All photos are published with the specific consent of Rhobi Samwelly and individuals in the photos).
In this second part of the blog series, Travel with Us - A Photo Journey visiting Hope for Girls and Women (HGWT), I would like to share more about the daily lives of the girls, and the wonderful time that we had with them.
The two safe houses not only provide a safe haven to girls escaping from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other forms of Gender Based Violence (GBV), but also educate them on personal and social development topics, as well as formal schooling. An important focus is to empower the girls, enabling them to become confident in all aspects of life. It was very impressive to see the older girls acting as role models, and to see how much they have grown personally over the past years.
Some of the girls never had the opportunity to attend school, or had to drop out at a very young age. These girls are offered the possibility of participating in various vocational programs.
Many of you will remember the protagonists of the documentary In the Name of Your Daughter, (filmmaker, Giselle Portnier) Rosie, Rhobi, Neema, Susan, to name a few. These girls (*) have grown into independent and confident young women, role models to the younger girls, and an inspiration to all around them.
(*) The studies of these girls are being sponsored by international sponsors.
I had the opportunity to spend time with them; I can’t wait to see the impact that they will continue to make on society.
Rosie: My dream is to become a doctor; I will continue to study hard; education is the one thing that no one can take away from me.
Rhobi: My dream is to become a doctor. I will never give up on my studies and study hard to achieve my dreams. And I will always keep on fighting to eradicate FGM.
Neema: My dream is to become a lawyer, to help women and children. We need to appreciate all the opportunities that we are given, and stand strong to change the world.
Susan: My dream is to become a pilot. We should continue believing in ourselves, work hard and be smart. And forgive our parents, and not to hold any revenge towards them.
One of the vocational skills that the girls are taught is beading. Both Graham and I received beautifully beaded bracelets. This is an area that will continue to be developed with new and interesting designs to be produced, and perhaps sold in Europe!
The girls needed no encouragement to try something new! The entrepreneur teacher, also helped a few of the girls to make a Miss Klitty, the mascot of the EndFGM Canada network. Look here to see how you can sew your own Miss Klitty.
Sport is an important recreational activity for the girl, especially during the holidays. The girls love playing football, and also enjoy doing yoga. (There will be a separate blog on the development of the yoga classes that is being done in partnership with My Little Zen.)
The girls love singing, and need no encouragement to burst out in song. Here the girls practiced for a music festival, singing acapella, under the guidance of a music teacher from the village.
A smaller group of girls and I had a fun afternoon painting. I introduced them to watercolor, and gouache. I chose to start with an easy pink flower, and they had the opportunity to paint a card each. This is an activity that we would like to continue in future. There is definite talent, an opportunity to develop and grow.
Andy Warhol said,
“Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.”
And that’s what the girls did, just enjoying the moment of being creative.
HGWT strives to grow as much as possible vegetables in two vegetable gardens. Mama Emiliana is the gardener at the Mugumu safe house, and all the staff at the Butiama safe house helps with the garden there. The girls help when they have a free moment not studying, or at school or not busy with vocational training. The vegetables that grow best are spinach, beans, carrots, cassava and maize.
My idea was to write one or two blogs about the girls of HGWT, but I now realize that this was not realistic.; there is just too much to share! There will be a few more blogs, addressing vocational training, reconciliation, the development of yoga and IT support and finally, saying good bye on our last day at the Butiama safe house.
You are very welcome to ask for more information on any of the topics that I addressed in this blog.
Thank you to Martha Canning for the permission to link Rhobi and Rosie to the original blogs written for FAWCO.