Jump on the Caravan
To Protect Women and Girls
Local activists are taking the road across Africa with the Born Perfect Caravans for the eradication of FGM. Bringing change from within their own communities, frontliners are joined by local influencers, religious leaders, medical professionals, police officials, and survivors to break the silence and inform pro-FGM communities about the truth about FGM.
the fgm challenge
Every 10 seconds a girl gets cut, and every 12 minutes a girl dies from mutilation. However, less than 2% of donor funding reaches the frontline – the most cost-effective and impactful solution for change.
THE BORN PERFECT CARAVANS
THE MISSION: To travel through every FGM-practicing village in Africa with one message: girls are born perfect. They must not be mutilated, or forced into marriage, or subjected to any form of abuse.
WHO: Collaborative grassroots campaigns led by activists, survivors, medics, law enforcement, religious leaders, chiefs, and cultural influencers.
HOW: Informing communities of the medical harms of FGM, the legal risk of practicing it, and the religious and cultural myths around mutilation and child marriage. Parents are encouraged to sign the Dear Daughter pledge to not cut their daughters.
Critically, the caravan’s arrival in each region kicks off three years of local media campaigns, led by activists with regional influencers as guests.
CARAVAN ROUTES
OUR 6 PILLARS STRATEGY
The Born Perfect Campaign in Sierra Leone will be a multi-pronged, locally-led initiative designed to dismantle the political and cultural structures that sustain FGM.
The Born Perfect Academies
We will inform, mobilise, and train local activists, religious leaders, traditional chiefs, and even Soweis (Bondo Society leaders), empowering them to become community leaders in the movement to end FGM.
The Born Perfect Bus Tour
Adapting the term “caravan,” which is often criticised as a Western intervention in Sierra Leone, our activists, doctors, police officials, key influencers, and lawyers will travel through high-prevalence communities, breaking the silence on the truth about FGM and delivering the ECOWAS ruling into villages.
Survivor Support
Our survivor-led psychosocial support and trauma healing sessions will provide a safe space for women and girls in remote areas to heal from the trauma of FGM and GBV. The expansion of the campaign will also include the Medical Re-Opening Clinics for survivors with Type III FGM.
Strengthening Justice Systems
We will train police and magistrates to ensure an effective and engaged legal response to FGM and GBV, building on the progress of the ECOWAS ruling.
Strengthening Education Systems
We will replace traditional Bondo cutting huts with schools to encourage girls to stay in school, as being cut triples the likelihood of a girl dropping out.
Media Campaigns
The campaign will be amplified through activist-led radio and TV blitzes, featuring cultural, legal, and medical leaders who will reinforce the message: “Our girls are born perfect.”
OUR CELEBRITY BACKERS
Fatoumata Diawara
Fatoumata Diawara, the world-renowned Malian international singer, songwriter, actress and activist is backing the Frontline #BornPerfect Caravans through her song “Boloko” (FGM).
Efe Ambrose
International footballer, Efe Ambrose, who has represented Nigeria on the international stage in the Olympics and FIFA World Cup, backs the BornPerfect movement.
Emmanuel Babayaro
A member of Nigeria’s gold medal winning team at the 1996 Olympics, international footballer, Emmanuel Babayaro, is a key supporter of the Born Perfect movement as an inspirational voice in the fight against FGM.