Hi Bloggers- At the age of 27 Nice Nailantei Leng’ete has helped 15,000 girls escape from the grips of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). She was exposed to this practice at the age of 8, but she had managed to run away with her sister.

Her relentless effort in helping these girls is truly impactful, and although she does face much disagreement in the community, she continues to create change and aims to rid her community of FGM by 2030.

FGM as defined by the World Health Organization and the United Nations is: “all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural, religious or other non-therapeutic reasons.” In Africa and many other countries, girls undergo this procedure without the use of anesthesia.

Since the age of seven Nailantei was motivated to do something about this practice. She had been attending these ceremonies since a young age and saw the pain her friends went through during these procedures, She was determined to do something about it.

Nailantei told her grandfather that she did not want to undergo the procedure and if she were forced to she would run away. Her grandfather agreed, and Nailantei didn’t go through the pain of the procedure. Although ostracized from society, she became the first one in her village to go to High School. Eventually, Nailantei was an inspiration for many others girls in her town, and they looked to her for help in avoiding FGM.

Nailantei, thank you for all you have done and for all the lives you have saved.

Sending a lot of positive vibes your way,

Manisha Sareen