Jump on the Caravan
To Protect Women and Girls
Local activists and survivors 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 former cutters to break the silence and inform FGM-practicing 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 3% of donor funding reaches the frontline – the most cost-effective and impactful solution for change.
THE BORN PERFECT CARAVANS
Mobile anti-FGM campaigns travel through hard-to-reach FGM-practicing communities, raising awareness and encouraging the collective abandonment of FGM – reaching communities often neglected by INGO anti-FGM programming.
Led by grassroots activists and survivors, medics, law enforcement, religious leaders, chiefs, and cultural influencers join the Caravans for region specific campaigning. The Caravans arrive with music, celebration, film, speeches, and information, and parents are encouraged to sign the Dear Daughter pledge as a personal commitment to reject FGM.
Critically, the caravan’s arrival in each region kicks off local media campaigns, led by activists with regional influencers as guests.
CARAVAN ROUTES
OUR 6 PILLARS STRATEGY
The Born Perfect Campaign is a multi-pronged, locally-led initiative designed to dismantle the cultural structures that support FGM in each community.
The Born Perfect Academies
Informing, mobilising, and training local activists, religious leaders, cultural influencers, former cutters, the youth, and survivors, and empowering them to become community leaders in the movement to end FGM.
The Born Perfect Bus Tour
A united rally of activists and local influencers travels through high-prevalence and remote communities, breaking the silence on the truth about FGM and delivering a simple message: girls are born perfect.
Survivor Support
Survivor-led psychosocial support and trauma healing Tree of Life sessions provide a safe space for women and girls to heal from the trauma of FGM and GBV – with sessions held before the caravan arrives in each village to avoid re-traumatisation. The expansion of the campaign will also include the Medical Re-Opening Clinics for survivors with Type III FGM.
Strengthening Justice Systems
Training local police and magistrates to ensure an effective and engaged legal response to FGM and GBV, supporting existing laws or rulings against FGM, and expanding the Digital Whistleblowers Map for rapid response to cutters’ movements and FGM cases.
Strengthening Education Systems
Supporting girls to stay in school (when girls are cut, they are often taken out of education to be married off), addressing peer pressure, integrating anti-FGM awareness clubs into the school curriculum, and working closely with teachers to monitor any suspicions and support students. Where applicable, replacement of traditional cutting huts with schools.
Media Campaigns
Amplifying the campaign 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.