Ten years ago, you joined me and hundreds of thousands of others in signing a Change.org petition calling for the end of female genital mutilation (FGM) in The Gambia. That moment was a turning point—and together, we made history.

I’m Jaha Dukureh, founder of Safe Hands for Girls, and today I’m reaching out to thank you, update you on everything we’ve achieved in the past decade, and invite you to continue standing with us in this vital movement.

Here’s what we’ve accomplished together over the last 10 years:

• FGM and child marriage are now criminalized in The Gambia, and we continue to fight to uphold these laws against ongoing threats.
• Our advocacy has reached millions of people online and in communities across The Gambia, the United States, and beyond.
• We expanded our work to places like Liberia, where we are still pushing for anti-FGM legislation.
• Our school club program has impacted more than 10,000 girls in over 100 schools, empowering the next generation of leaders.
• Our community gardening initiative has supported more than 1,000 women farmers, providing economic stability for families.
• We partnered with governments, religious leaders, and educators to integrate FGM awareness into educational studies.
• Collaborating with Al-Azhar University, we secured a fatwa against child marriage, a groundbreaking step in Islamic jurisprudence.
• We organized the first Africa-led summit on ending FGM and child marriage, uniting voices across the continent.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, we provided a safety net for more than 3,000 female-led households in The Gambia.
• Partnering with grassroots leaders and survivors, we’ve expanded our work into 7 countries and regions.

These achievements would not have been possible without the support of individuals like you.

But the fight is far from over. The gains we’ve made are under constant threat, and there is so much more to do to protect girls and empower women.

Today, I’m asking for your support to continue this work.

Your donation will help us:

• Defend existing laws protecting girls in The Gambia and push for similar legislation in countries like Liberia.
• Launch new regenerative farming initiatives to provide sustainable job creation for women.
• Support grassroots leaders and survivors in their efforts to create lasting change in their communities.

Will you stand with us once again? Make your donation here. 

Thank you for being part of this journey from the beginning. Together, we’ve made history, and together, we can create a future where every girl is safe, free, and empowered.

With deepest gratitude,

Jaha Dukureh
Founder, Safe Hands for Girls

P.S. Your voice helped spark a movement 10 years ago. Let’s continue this fight together. Every contribution makes a difference.