March against FGM and GBV in Marakwet East

Empowering girls, transforming communities.

We provide mentorship, education, and opportunities for young girls and women to thrive and lead change in their communities.

Donate now How we work

500+

Teenage Girls Reached This Year

100+

Survivors Receiving Mental Support

3

Counties of operation

100%

Programs led by Survivors and Volunteers

Our Focus.

Light A Girl Initiative deals in the following thematic areas : Ending all forms of GBV including FGM/C, Ending child marriage and teen pregnancies,Sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR), Providing emotional wellbeing to survivors of FGM, Empowerment of women and girls on education and health .

Teachers Engagement

Light a Girl Initiative mobilizes teachers to be champions of the fight against FGM. It is at primary and secondary school level that most girls undergo FGM.

Life Skills training for school girls

We conduct school life skill trainings for girls on SRHR, school retention, FGM, teenage pregnancies. The organization also reaches to girls in primary school and secondary school, and emphasizes the need to continue studying for many of the girls who drop out of school after undergoing FGM.

What we do

From preventive care to rapid response, our programs are designed with local partners and measured for impact.

Community Dialogues

Holding community dialogues with targeted women and men on the harmful effects of FGM on their children. These men and women are fathers and mothers of girls who are vulnerable and can easily be cut.

Survivor Engagement

We engage with survivors to be able to process their traumas and tell their stories hence shield their daughters from FGM. .

Engagement of girls

During school holidays, we hold forums for girls and young mothers in various locations, focusing on emotional wellbeing, rights awareness, and resilience. We also provide support to survivors to help them process their experiences.

Your support powers local solutions

Every donation fuels community-led campaigns against FGM, and Empowers Girls to work towards achieving their potential.

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Voices of Change

Read stories of impact, change and empowerment from girls and young women in affected communities.

Elgeyo Marakwet County

Viola Finds Her Voice Against FGM

When Viola first joined the AMUA SASA one-day event, she was a quiet and reserved girl. Like many of her peers, she carried silent fears about her future and the pressure of harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)...

Read story →

Our People

Initiative Director

Sally Chepchumba

Sally is a dedicated high school teacher and an outspoken advocate for women’s rights. A survivor of FGM herself, she has been a fierce opponent of the practice since she was 18. Her voice carries the strength and authenticity that only lived experience can bring, inspiring others to rethink harmful traditions. With unwavering determination, Sally envisions a future where FGM no longer exists in Kerio Valley—and she is working tirelessly to make that vision a reality.

Community Outreach

Sarah Cheboi

Sarah grew up watching young girls endure the pain of the cut. Over the years, she has listened to countless women share their stories of trauma and the lasting scars FGM has left on their lives. As a nurse and midwife serving in local hospitals, she has witnessed firsthand the immense suffering cut women face during childbirth. These experiences fuel her mission. Today, Sarah speaks out with courage and compassion, carrying her message against FGM to every village, home, and hamlet across Marakwet East—determined to protect girls and give women hope for a safer future.

Programmes Lead

Cynthia Jepkorir

Cynthia deeply values the rich culture of the Marakwet people—but she firmly rejects the harmful practice of circumcising girls. Instead, she champions positive cultural expression, organizing vibrant events that celebrate heritage while creating safe spaces to challenge FGM and all forms of gender-based violence. As Programmes Lead at Light a Girl Initiative, Cynthia brings bold leadership, strong mobilization skills, and an unwavering commitment to protecting girls. Fearless and people-driven, she is redefining what it means to honour culture without harming women and girls.

Communications Lead

Leonard Kibor

Leonard is a firm believer in equal education for girls and boys, convinced that empowered girls can achieve extraordinary heights. A vocal opponent of FGM, he has consistently challenged cultural fundamentalists who defend the practice. Since 2017, Leonard has led numerous sensitization sessions in his community, urging the rejection of harmful traditions and championing education as the key to empowering girls and transforming society.

Initiative Secretary

Lydia Kemboi

Lydia first encountered FGM after marrying into the Marakwet community. Growing up in Uasin Gishu, a cosmopolitan region where the practice was unfamiliar, she was shocked and deeply disturbed by the widespread violation of young girls and women. Together with Sally and Sarah, she co-founded Light A Girl Initiative to challenge this harmful practice and give survivors a voice. Lydia recalls being ridiculed for being an uncircumcised married woman, labeled immature and a misfit in a community where more than 75% of girls are cut before the age of 14. Her pain and resilience now fuel a movement dedicated to protecting girls and restoring their dignity.