Project Upendo is more than just baskets and décor.We are a mission to give back to the world and help the people who need it the most. That is why, for every purchase made, we donate a small portion of our proceeds to help combat the world’s grand challenges.
One of these efforts is ending the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM).
Female genital mutilation is a socially embedded act of violence against young women and girls that we at Project Upendo hope to take part in eradicating.
FGM consists of partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other substantial injuries to female sex organs with no medical purpose.
The practice offers no medical benefit, and it can cause short-term and long-term health issues for the young women and girls and children they may have in the future. Infections, permanent damage, complications with childbirth, and more are just a few of the issues that can arise.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 200 million women alive today have been cut in 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Most often the girls are 15-years-old or younger, and the mutilation is sometimes performed against their will. Therefore, it violates international human rights law on many fronts. These girls have a life-altering choice taken out of their hands, and that alone violates a woman’s right to health, security and physical integrity, and the right to be free from torture.
In some cases, the act of FGM even results in death, which robs these women of their right to life. The brutal amount of pain alone can cause shock and trauma to the victims, as they are often not given any pain medications.
Project Upendo and the organizations we donate a portion of our profits to believe that the socially normalized act of FGM, sometimes also called female genital cutting, needs to come to an end. Women are made to believe that FGM is an essential part of being a woman and promoting premarital virginity and marital fidelity. The link to FGM and people’s culture and religion is the main argument for its continuation, but when young girls are forced to do something that completely changes their life, we believe things need to change.
Societal norms need to be morphed and respect for women and their body autonomy needs to be a building block in the foundation of these societies. But this is hard work, it takes hands-on effort across the globe and relationship building with local communities.
Our customers can shop small and socially conscious knowing that we are joining the fight against this human rights violation. Here at Project Upendo, we believe in more than e-commerce, we believe in change.
