Interview with Valerie Browning
13th March 2025
Ending FGM: progress, challenges, and how you can help. Valerie Browning is the co-founder and Programme Director of the Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA). Why
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is any procedure where female genitalia is removed, cut or injured for non-medical reasons. Removing flesh is the most common form of FGM in Ethiopia. This may include the clitoris or the labia. The most severe form, in which the vaginal opening is sewn closed, is common in the Afar region.
FGM has been practised for thousands of years. Many communities believe FGM to be an essential part of a girl’s life and important for their wellbeing, and that it keeps women and girls pure, and fit for marriage. Misconceptions about religious teachings exacerbate the issue, especially in areas where literacy is low.
Will you help end the lifelong pain of FGM for the next generation of girls?
Training Women Extension Workers, who go house to house to support women and girls, advocating for their rights. By involving both girls and boys in discussions, the next generation can end FGM.
Mentoring and supervising Traditional Birth Attendants to stop performing FGM, protect babies from harmful practices and become advocates for change.
Working with religious and clan leaders, who use their influence and authority to dispel misconceptions about religious teachings and the law.
Please donate to help end FGM.
Thank you.
When Mohammad saw his baby daughter Faatuma cry in pain every single day, he was desperate to find out the reason for her distress.
He didn’t realise FGM was the cause and that this extremely dangerous, yet sadly common practice wasn’t required under Islamic teaching. Like Mohammad, many are taught FGM is necessary in order to keep women and girls pure and fit for marriage.
He didn’t know that when he asked the birth attendants to only cut the clitoris they would cut so much more, meaning, once sewn up, urine could barely drain out. He didn’t know that it would cause his little daughter such extreme pain.
As infection took hold of Faatuma, Mohammad was driven to seek help. APDA’s Women Extension Workers assisted Mohammad in rushing her to hospital, where she received the emergency surgery she needed. Without it, she may have died.
While the urgent care she received saved her life, Faatuma will still suffer the pain and consequences of this horrific practice for the rest of her life.
Mohammad loves his daughter. The trauma of Faatuma’s suffering and teaching from the Women Extension Workers helped him rethink his beliefs about FGM. Now, he passionately opposes all forms of cutting and spreads this message throughout his community.
The Afar region is one of the regions of Ethiopia with the highest prevalence of FGM. It has been practiced there for hundreds of years.
Many communities believe FGM to be an essential part of a girl’s life and important for their wellbeing. Misconceptions about religious teachings exacerbate the issue, especially in areas where literacy is low.
Changing such deep-rooted beliefs is hard, but slowly and surely our partner’s Women Extension Workers are raising awareness of the dangers and convincing communities that it cannot continue.
Ending FGM: progress, challenges, and how you can help. Valerie Browning is the co-founder and Programme Director of the Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA). Why
We raise funds for local Ethiopian charities to transform lives and achieve lasting change.
Our partners know the context and solutions; we listen and provide appropriate support. Partnerships continue as long as there’s a clear need and opportunities to make a lasting impact.
Our vision – an Ethiopia in which every person has access to quality education, healthcare and a life of dignity.
Our mission – breaking the cycle of poverty by enabling the poorest and most vulnerable and their communities to live with dignity, to build resilience and achieve real and sustainable solutions to the challenges they face.
