V-Day Annual Report 2016 - ONE BILLION RISING: RISE FOR REVOLUTION 1 | Page 47

Since it opened in 2002, Tasaru Ntomonok
Initiative, has been a groundbreaking safe house
for girls fleeing Female Genital Mutilation and
early marriage, and an educational hub teaching
community members about the damage and
impact these cultural practices have. In winter
of 2016, Tasaru was home to 55 girls who were
given training in Alternative Rites of Passage
without the physical cut. 117 girls went through
a 6 day seclusion training and graduated
into adulthood without the cut at a ceremony
attended by local leaders, community elders,
representatives from the ministry of health,
judiciary, the children’s department, the office
of director of public prosecutions, NGO’s and
civil society. During this period, 3 girls were also
reconciled with their families.

V-DAY’S
SAFE HOUSE

FOR THE GIRLS/
TASARU NTOMONOK
INITIATIVE (KENYA)