PfefferminzGreen is a German non-profit organization understanding the importance of promoting grassroots organizations in order to achieve sustainable development in Subsahara Africa. Particularly since the 1970s there has been a wave of aid coming from the West, but despite all efforts poverty has increased in most Sub-Saharan countries. International aid organizations are still trying to improve the living conditions of African Communities using various approaches, mostly without creating sustainable development.
Dr. Stella Rothenberger, Founder and Director of PfefferminzGreen calls for a greater focus on the strength of local NGOs in order to achieve sustainable solutions. “We need to support local organizations, like AIM, who have a cultural understanding of the major issues their communities are facing, and who are more proximate to their own societal challenges.”
Ten (10) years ago, Rugiatu and Stella met in Berlin to discuss how best to support the campaign to end FGM. In just 10 minutes, Rugiatu was able to convince Stella that promoting education in rural communities was the answer. This promotion includes reducing the number of Bondo bushes and replacing them with schools, skills training centers or Medical facility and removing the tradition of female cutting in the Bondo society, supporting women and communities in agriculture, empowering women through livelihood skills, reclaiming our forests by tree planting which will also support climate change and deforestation and alternative rites of passage to sustain the Bondo culture, etc.
The first project was an elementary school in Rolal Village in Bake Loko Chiefdom in Port Loko district.
There is now a pre-school, a secondary school and an orphanage there with over 30 children.
Over the years, many other projects have been developed through this partnership that has changed the lives of many women, girls and community members.
Pfefferminz Green supported AIM to realize the first “Alternative Rite of Passage” in Port Loko in 2019 with 75 young women to effect change in the campaign against female circumcision. This strategy is now admired and accepted by many citizens at home and abroad.
The alternative rite of passage is a sustainable way to preserve cultural traditions on the one hand and to no longer allow circumcision (removal of the clitoris) as part of this tradition on the other. This requires a lot of awareness and education work with community members, former circumcisers and religious leaders.
Recently on August 4, AIM organized the third alternative rite of passage with 60 young women; the second was held in Matotoka, Tonkolili with 65 girls followed by a public declaration with 50 Sowies.
AIM is now appealing to the government, diplomatic and consular missions, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other partners to support the alternative rite to bring about generational change. We also ask them to cascade the management of the project by allowing local organizations to take a clear leadership role through direct funding. Direct funding is an important aspect of the solution to ending traditional social norms – shifting power and supporting local organizations.
Bravo and congratulations to Amazonian Initiative Movement (AIM) for an important solution to ending FGM. Very soon, hopefully, other African countries will come to Sierra Leone to learn how to separate FGM from culture. And thank you to PfefferminzGreen for helping to make the journey possible and continuing to support it.
Together, AIM and PfefferminzGreen believe in the need to #shiftthepower from INGOs to local NGOs, so that African communities become the decision-makers of their own societal development.
