ADDRESSING
FEMALE GENITAL
MUTILATION IN
EAST LONDON
CLASSROOMS
Waltham Forest, East London, is one of the most diverse and multicultural areas in the UK and has a strong record of maintaining a zero-tolerance approach to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The UK’s first FGM conviction was upheld in Waltham Forest, sending a staunch message that there are serious repercussions for carrying out the abusive practice.
Our project ‘End FGM Now: Teachers on the Frontline’ supports schools in Waltham Forest to strengthen how FGM is taught in primary and secondary schools. Our project is implemented by community leader and anti-FGM campaigner Hibo Wardere and educator Carol Moloney.
Results
-
112
teachers provided with FGM lesson plans in line with the national curriculum
-
1,620
students reached with our FGM curriculum to identify and safeguard girls-at-risk of FGM
-
8
primary and secondary school Headteachers convened to identify challenges and opportunities to address FGM in the classroom
-
48
community members galvanised to discuss practical interventions to end FGM in their community
How we make change
Supporting Teachers
As FGM becomes a compulsory school subject across England and Wales, we provide direct support to primary and secondary schools and deliver learning plans to teachers and pupils in line with the new national curriculum. We work to respond directly to the needs and concerns teachers expressed in talking openly and freely about FGM with their pupils. In consultation with primary and secondary school headteachers, we designed user-friendly curriculum in line with newly introduced national curriculum requirements on FGM.
Community Efforts to End FGM
Coordinated community action is challenging social norms and attitudes that perpetuate FGM. Together with the London Borough of Waltham Forest, we convened community leaders and members to discuss practical interventions to end FGM together at “Waltham Forest: Building a future free of FGM.” Community leaders, practitioners and concerned citizens came together to enforce a clear and strong message: FGM has no place in their community.
Classroom Curriculum
Designed for educators, by educators using a Philosophy for Children model (P4C), our curriculum helps teachers feel confident when addressing FGM in the classroom by providing off-the-shelf lesson plans, individual and group activities and a list of helpful learning materials including film, animations and songs. All materials were created in line with mandatory national Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) curricula in primary and secondary schools.
If you suspect someone is at risk or being subjected to any form of FGM, it is important to take action and report it straight away. In the UK, if someone is in immediate danger please dial 999. If you are concerned about a child, please call the NSPCC on 0800 028 3550 or email fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk. Domestic violence support is also available on Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247.
Resources
Wardere & Moloney's Survivor’s Guide
A comprehensive educational programme that Immerses pupils, parents and staff into philosophical questioning and enquiry techniques.
News
