Stop FGM

Protecting Girls, Nourishing Futures

Wend Songda Kindergarten in Burkina Faso gets our support

From mid-June to September, children in Burkina Faso are on school holiday, a period that, sadly, is also considered high-risk for illegal circumcisions. That’s why the local project coordinator, Tessere Derra and Nala e.V. from Munich Germany remain actively engaged even during the break to ensure the continued safety of the children.

The Wend Songda Kindergarten, located in a vulnerable community, is more than just a preschool. It is a place of protection, education, and transformation. Its mission goes far beyond teaching letters and numbers. The project, coordinated by the Network for the Socioeconomic and Cultural Development of Burkina Faso (R.D.S.E.C.B.) and supported by NALA e.V. – Education instead of Circumcision, aims to protect young girls from female genital mutilation (FGM/C) and child marriage, while ensuring all children receive proper nutrition and early education.

“We don’t just feed the children; we give them trust, safety, and a chance to grow up free from harmful traditions,” says Derra.

A Safe Space for Growth and Awareness

Wend Songda isn’t just about meals and education. It's also a place where harmful traditions are confronted through daily contact with families, where educators teach children body awareness and encourage open, fearless conversations. The children grow up learning that their bodies are their own. They often confide in the caregivers and trusted adults who can act swiftly and decisively to protect them.

A cornerstone of the project is providing balanced, daily meals for approximately 70 children. At a cost of just 50 Euro Cents per child per day, this seemingly small amount totals an annual €8,400. When adding school uniforms, educational materials for new students, and the cook’s salary, the total yearly budget climbs to between €10,000 and €12,000. Yet, the impact is invaluable.

Thanks to proceeds from our activity at the art event in Munich, ARTMUC, we have managed to secure funding that can sustain the kindergarten for up to three years.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PROJECT LEADER

Renate Wernery, Past President and project-lead of the ARTMUC fundraiser commented:

"We are delighted to have raised such an enormous amount of money, well beyond what we had anticipated. The funds will be used to educate, empower and enable those girls in Burkina Faso. Nala e.V. and Fadumo Korn in particular are dedicated to make a change in the lives of these children. It's inspiring to see."

Over the five days, thousands of visitors passed by our stand.

About

Our participation in ARTMUC, held in Munich from May 1 to 4, 2025, proved to be a vibrant platform for contemporary art and a valuable space for dialogue and social engagement.

A key connection between Past President Renate Wernery and Raiko Schwalbe, the organizer of ARTMUC—established earlier in Dubai—turned out to be highly fruitful. Leveraging ARTMUC to raise awareness about female genital mutilation (FGM) and fundraise for the cause proved to be an impactful and strategic decision. Thanks to Raiko’s generous support, our club maintained a strong and visible presence at the ARTMUC exhibition halls. Our FGM awareness initiative broadened the fair's reach, transforming it into a platform for humanitarian advocacy as well as artistic expression.

A silent auction allowed us to successfully merge creativity with purpose. Seventy donated artworks from a diverse group of artists, combined with our SI exhibition stand, video, and information materials, attracted significant interest from attendees. Renate, Ester, and Sonja from Soroptimist Dubai were present throughout the entire event, supported by Beryl and several members from the SI Clubs Munich.

Together, we ensured our stand was continuously staffed, engaging visitors and informing them about the urgent need to end FGM. Few visitors left without having learned something vital about our cause. Over the course of the four-day exhibition, more than 18,000 visitors passed through the halls.

Distinguished guests who visited our stand included SI Germany President Manuela Nitsche, Connie Gehrken from Club Witten, and representatives from the Munich PresseClub.

Most notably, we raised an impressive €23,000 in support of Nala e.V., a Munich-based organization dedicated to fighting FGM and raising public awareness. This outstanding achievement highlights the power of collaboration—between Soroptimist International, partner organizations, and the public—when united by a shared commitment to human rights. It stands as a testament not only to the generosity of the art community but also to the profound potential of art as a catalyst for social change.

About ARTMUC

Since its founding in 2014, ARTMUC has supported social projects with every edition. In 2025, it committed to the international project "Stop Female Genital Mutilation" to raise awareness of this urgent social issue. In cooperation with the Soroptimist-Club Dubai, artworks will be made available for a silent auction. The proceeds will go directly to a relief project.

The silent auction will take place during all four days of the ARTMUC. Visitors will have the opportunity to place bids on the exhibited artworks and actively contribute to the project’s support. With this initiative, ARTMUC once again proves that art can not only inspire but also drive social change.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a form of violence against women and a violation of their human rights. Every 11 seconds, a girl is intentionally injured in her genital area —worldwide! The most common justification is tradition: circumcision symbolizes adherence to the customs and values of the family or tribe and is seen as a prerequisite for social acceptance as a woman.

International female artists make a statement AT ARTMUC

A few exampleS

Photographer Antje M. Pohsegger from Berlin is also committed to the project. A central focus of her work is "breaking blades – break off FGM/C", a photojournalistic exhibition that artistically processes the topic in a multimedia format. Since 2019, she has devoted herself to this project with the goal of giving a voice to those affected and raising awareness. She has created a special piece for the silent auction at ARTMUC that can be bid on.

"It remains important to talk about taboos, break them, and thus protect girls and young women. They should be allowed to decide about their own bodies," explains Antje Pohsegger.

Manuela Nitsche, the current president of Soroptimist International Germany, is also taking part in the auction. The master goldsmith and member of the Soroptimist-Club Munich 2002 is the first craftswoman to lead the organization. As an independent entrepreneur, she balances career, volunteer work, and private life — representing a generation of women who take on responsibility on many levels.She is contributing one of her personally designed jewelry pieces to the silent auction.

"Every piece of jewelry becomes a companion to the person wearing it. My designs are meant to be long-lasting companions that continue to bring sparkle and joy."

About her work as a Soroptimist, she adds:"Our society is fast-paced and complex. Tackling the pressing issues of the future requires strong networks. It's about visibly creating connections and standing together as a global voice for women."

FGM: Female Genital Mutiliation

OUR ACTiON