A webtalk hosted by the United Nations Association of New York
Commemorating the UN International Day of the Girl Child
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Samuel Siriria Leadismo
Co-Founder and Director
Pastoralist Child Foundation
Elizabeth Lemoyog
FGM Expert and Community Mobilizer
Pastoralist Child Foundation
Moderator
Sayydah Garrett
Co-Founder and President
Pastoralist Child Foundation
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Tuesday | 11 October 2022
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. EST | Discussion with Q+A
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Register for this event here
Please join us for this webtalk as two key representatives from the Pastoralist Child Foundation — Co-Founder and Director Samuel Siriria Leadismo, alongside FGM expert and community mobilizer, Elizabeth Lemoyog — discuss PCF initiatives and strategies for eradicating Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), at the national level in Kenya and beyond. The moderator this evening will be PCF co-founder and president, Sayydah Garrett.
This event also coincides with the UN’s International Day of the Girl Child (designated October 11). The day’s intentional focus is on the problems and challenges faced by girls, which are an impediment to their well-being and achieving a better quality of life.
Pastoralist Child Foundation (PCF) is a registered nonprofit organization committed to advocacy against, and the intervention and prevention of female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage by providing support services, education, scholarships and enrichment programs.
PCF was formed when Sayydah Garrett, a teacher in New Jersey, went on safari to Kenya in August 2012. The safari included a visit to a Maasai village in close proximity to the lodge where Sayydah resided for 4 days. She was welcomed by the beautiful Samburu tribe with songs and dances and was happy to join in the celebration.
Sayydah was fascinated by the tribe and excitedly returned to the lodge with many photos. She called to Samuel, a waiter in the restaurant, to show him the photos. Samuel knew everyone in the pictures because Namayiana was his village. He spoke at length about the harmful effects of FGM and forced marriages in his community. He told her, “I want to start a community-based organization to eradicate female genital mutilation and forced early marriage before it’s my youngest sister’s turn to get cut. Girls should be allowed to go to school.”
Sayydah was shocked to learn of this, but at the same time, delighted to hear a man voice his concern about the plight of girls in his community. With some background nonprofit experience and working for a homeless agency, Sayydah offered to help with fundraising, writing proposals and raising awareness. Warmly inspired, Samuel immediately offered her the position of president — and the Pastoralist Child Foundation was co-founded in that moment.
Samuel registered PCF as a Community Based Organization (CBO) in Kenya within 2 weeks, while Sayydah also started the 501C3 public charity registration process in the USA. Pastoralist Child Foundation was incorporated in April, 2013 and granted tax-exempt public charity 501(c)3 status in August, 2013.
PCF provides youth empowerment workshops and adult community dialogues that focus on FGM, child marriage, teen pregnancy, sexual and reproductive health and rights, HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, health and sanitation, the importance of formal education, and economic empowerment for women. PCF provides scholarships to girls attending secondary boarding schools and universities.
Guest Speakers
SAMUEL SIRIRIA LEADISMO | Co-Founder and Director, Pastoralist Child Foundation
ELIZABETH LEMOYOG | FGM Expert and Community Mobilizer, Pastoralist Child Foundation
Samuel Siriria Leadismo and Elizabeth Lemoyog are lifelong residents of Archer’s Post, Samburu County, Kenya. They are credited and recognized for saving thousands of girls from undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM) in Samburu and Maasai Mara, Kenya since 2012. The team plans and oversees all local and national workshops, inter-generational community dialogues, and radio shows hosted by Pastoralist Child Foundation (PCF). They represent PCF at all FGM-related public events, demonstrations, and media opportunities. E.g. International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM and Day of the African Child. In an effort to increase the number of anti-FGM activists and organizations, Samuel and Elizabeth create connections and strategic partnerships between PCF and others who implement FGM interventions, as well as identify communication opportunities and strategies at all levels (sub-county, county, national, regional, and global) to raise awareness about and ending FGM and child marriage.
The team trains all stakeholders in FGM practicing pastoralist communities — law enforcement, teachers, healthcare workers, former circumcizers, village chiefs, warriors, religious leaders, young mothers, teachers, social workers, county government employees. Supporting coordination meetings on Integration of Child Protection Issues including FGM and child marriage and regular training of duty bearers, change agents, and child protection club chaperones is also ongoing. Since 2015, Samuel and Elizabeth have educated an additional 2,400 youths through PCF’s annual soccer and volleyball tournaments where youth are required to attend workshops on FGM, child marriage, teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, life skills, and the importance of education.
Replacing “the cut” with safe, educational, and fun Alternative Rites of Passage have been held for more than 10,000 girls. Samuel and Elizabeth also visit primary and secondary schools to teach boys and girls the harmful effects of FGM and child marriage, emphasizing the importance of education in order to attain positive and healthy life outcomes. Workshops and dialogues with boys and men started in 2015. The pastoralist community is highly patriarchal and it is vital to have the participation of males in our anti-FGM advocacy efforts. This initiative is proving to be highly successful with males stating, “No More FGM!” and village chiefs across Samburu County signing declarations to end the harmful practice once and for all.
Samuel and Elizabeth work in partnership with UNICEF-Kenya, the Kenyan government’s Anti-FGM Network, the Kenya Anti-FGM Youth Network, and Global Media Campaign to End FGM, as well as other like-minded organizations to spread the key message that FGM is a human rights violation, violence against girls and women, unnecessary, and illegal in Kenya. Women’s workshops are held for women to change their outdated beliefs about FGM and child marriage, and to rediscover the beauty of their culture. This is key towards progress in ending violence against women and has resulted in the formation of 4 women’s self-help groups (2 in Samburu and 2 in Maasai Mara) that are now operating successful businesses in livestock, jewelry, and clothing sales.
Samuel was awarded “Male Champion to End FGM” in 2018 by the Kenya Anti-FGM Board, UNICEF-Kenya, and other stakeholders during the 1st Conference to End FGM in Nairobi, Kenya. He was awarded a recognition certificate for his work towards girls’ and women’s rights and his contribution towards ending FGM in Samburu by the Samburu County Commissioner and by the Honorable Linah Jebii Kilimo, Chairperson of the Kenyan Anti-FGM Board. The high distinction of “Mashujaa” (Hero) was awarded to Samuel in 2018 by President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya for his work to end FGM in Kenya.
Moderator
SAYYDAH GARRETT | Founder and President, Pastoralist Child Foundation
Sayydah Garrett was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Since childhood she has seen her parents (Ukrainian mother and African-American father) set the good example of helping less fortunate people in their community. This instilled the lifelong passion Sayydah has for helping others, whether it’s watching over elderly neighbors in her town, contributing to her favorite charities or doing community service. Her personal mission statement is, “Tell me what you want and I’ll help you get it.”
While on safari in Kenya in August, 2012 Sayydah visited Namayiana Village in Samburu County and learned about harmful centuries-old practices from a Samburu warrior (PCF’s Co-founder) who is fighting for girls’ rights to education. Sayydah promised to help and Pastoralist Child Foundation was founded on the very day of her visit to the village.
Sayydah is fluent in English, French and Russian, and speaks conversational Spanish. She enjoys learning languages and meeting people from all over the world, especially when they share food with her! She has traveled to 25+ countries.
Sayydah is a certified ESL (English as a Second Language) instructor and Adult Basic Education (ABE) instructor. She also teaches French at a local adult night school. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Honours in Russian Language & Literature from Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Sayydah’s pastimes include spending time with family and friends, doing aqua fitness, and baking. She also enjoys doing community service and enjoys being on the Board of Trustees for the Women’s Club of Glen Ridge, and as President-Elect for the Glen Ridge Kiwanis Club. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, GRAMMY Award winning saxophonist and composer, Kenny Garrett.