Friday, February 10, 2017
Kenyan tribes abandon FGM with Alternative Rite of Passage
Hearts and minds are changing. In Kenya, a new generation of girls from the Maasai and Samburu tribes are entering adulthood without undergoing the painful ritual of female genital mutilation (FGM). The communities have been working with NGO Amref Health Africa to teach people about the damaging effects of FGM. Through Alternative Rite of Passage ceremonies, they continue to celebrate female initiation but no longer practice FGM. The girls are encouraged to pursue their goals through education and independence.
New Haitian president is sworn in amidst hurricane recovery
“A single Haiti for all Haitians.” In his first speech as Haiti’s newly elected leader, President Jovenel Moïse called for unity as the country continues to rebuild after Hurricane Matthew. He entered office more than a year after winning the election in 2015, the results of which were annulled due to alleged electoral fraud. A rerun was held in November 2016, and Moïse was declared the winner.
Meanwhile, the United Nations is considering removing peacekeepers from its Haitian mission, which has lasted for over a decade and has been criticized for starting the cholera epidemic after the 2010 earthquake.
First Pakistani female to join bomb squad says it’s more than just a profession
At 29 Rafia Qaseem Baig is the first female to join Pakistan’s Bomb Disposal Unit. With a master’s in International Relations and another in Economics, she turned down many job offers until she landed on an opportunity to serve in her province’s police force. Rafia says her profession is “a passion and inspiration for those who have a spirit of devotion for the country.”
