“I was circumcised when I was 13, as is the custom in my culture. I am a Maasai woman, and where I am from, in the Loita Hills of south-west Kenya, nearly all girls are circumcised when they begin menstruating.”

These are the words of Sarah Tenoi, Project Manager of S.A.F.E.’s grassroots, Loita based team. She continues: “I knew it was going to be difficult, and I knew I would have to undergo it whether I liked it or not, but nothing prepared me for the pain. I bled so much that day, and it only lessened with the use of a traditional healing ointment. But the pain got worse and worse. Two of my three children are girls – I do not want my daughters to endure what I went through.”

S.A.F.E. is an arts for social change NGO working in some of Kenya’s most remote and vulnerable communities through our grassroots, local teams – in Narok (SAFE Maa), Samburu (SAFE Samburu), and Kwale and Kilifi (SAFE Pwani). Using interactive forum theatre and film, S.A.F.E.’s goal is to champion community knowledge to co-create solutions to realise sexual health, gender and environmental justice.

Sarah, S.A.F.E.’s latest feature film, is the culmination of 22 years of using performance arts to generate social change in marginalised communities in Kenya. The film is transforming the conversation around women’s health and rights in Maasai communities, providing access to education, and pushing forward movements towards the elimination of early marriage and Female Genital Mutilation/ Cutting (FGM/C). S.A.F.E. are now looking for supporters to help Sarah reach every Maasai community in Kenya, accelerating moves to protect the rights of women and girls.

Over the last year, S.A.F.E. took Sarah into 14 of Loita’s schools - reaching 3,751 school-going youths and 1,669 members of the wider community. A further 721 girls were engaged in activities, giving them information about their sexual & reproductive health and rights, consent, bodily autonomy and environmental resilience. Additionally, 100% of community members confirmed that the film resonated with them and that it reflected the local context.

Building on the successes, learnings, challenges and information obtained in this time, we have designed a strategy to continue delivering this information and upscaling the project.

This will see a three-pronged approach:

Phase One, Breaking the silence around FGC, and creating a buzz around Sarah's Movement: Through highlighting the stories of Loita’s girls, and raising the film’s profile, we aim to create a strong network of stakeholders and supporters to implement our impact campaign to sustainably end FGC in Kenya. This will take place through media campaigns, radio stations and an official launch of the film in February 2025.

Phase Two, Grassroots Community Screenings: Taking Sarah to the ground, we will partner with local CBOs and activists in six practising counties in Kenya to host screenings with FGC survivors, cultural leaders, parents, teachers, men and girls who are at risk of FGC. These screenings will spark grassroots dialogue and cultivate community solution finding in order to boost and accelerate efforts to end FGC, and promote girls' access to education in these communities.

Phase Three, Sustainability and Global Visibility: This film is more than just a cinematic experience; it is a powerful tool that can be used to effectively shed light on FGC in Kenya and beyond. Phase three will ensure the sustainability of the film’s impacts. The creation of online toolkits for FGC abandonment activists, resources for survivors, partnerships with online streaming platforms and educational institutions will see the legacy of Sarah continue long after the active campaign is over. The toolkit will also allow for partners formed through this period to take the film into other regions, expanding Sarah’s reach.

Exciting update! We have successfully fundraised for the complete cost of Phase One - for which we owe a huge special thank you to The Egmont Trust. All funds raised now will proceed to Phases 2 and 3 — so your donations will directly go towards empowering women and girls from FGC practicing communities across Narok, Kajiado, Taita Taveta, Kisii, Laikipia and Samburu.