 |
| Dr Toury |
The work of GAMCOTRAP continues to
generate attention both within and outside the Gambia. Students alongside their
professors from Juniata College and Texas A&M University in the US visited
GAMCOTRAP on the 23rd and 26th respectively. The aim of
the visits is to know the work of the organization, its challenges and the
successes made over the years. Executive
Director of GAMCOTRAP
Dr. Isatou Touray, welcomed the visiting
students and their professors and said that the doors of her organization is
open to everyone irrespective race or nationality. This invitation resulted to
GAMCOTRAP hosting of several interns around the world. She emphasized the need
for more collaborative efforts both locally and internationally in the fight
against FGM and other harmful traditional practices. The students were briefed
on the work of GAMCOTRAP and strategies being used that resulted to tremendous
achievement of 4 public declarations during which 128 ex-circumcisers supported
by 900 communities have dropped the knife to end FGM.
 |
| Add caption |
The discussions are characterized by a
presentation on the effects of FGM followed by questions and answers in a very
interactive way. The visitors were overwhelmed with the ongoing advocacy at the
grassroots and declared that they too have a role to play because women’s
rights are human rights.
Professor Emil Nagengast from Juniata
College in USA led his group in a visit to GAMCOTRAP on Friday, 23rd
May, 2014. Over the past years, the
organization has been receiving students from the college and this has cemented
the relationship between the College and GAMCOTRAP. Students from College are enrolled as interns
and this provide mutual benefit, in terms of experience sharing and knowledge
building. Dr. Touray, expressed
appreciation to Professor Nagengast and his team for the hospitality rendered during
her visit in April, 2014 where she gave lectures on FGM and the work of her
organization. She stated that FGM is a development issue and cuts across racial
and geographical boundaries and thus making it a global agenda. Dr. Touray
believes that everybody can contribute in the fight against FGM and other
harmful traditional practices because ‘a woman affected in the Gambia affects
the whole world’. The students got inspired and thanked GAMCOTRAP for the noble
cause it is fighting and for sharing their work with them. They made a cash
donation to GAMCOTRAP as a sign of gratitude and support to the work it does.
On a similar note, another group of
students together with Dr. Corliss W. Outley, Associate Professor, Youth
Development Program from Texas A&M University in USA also visited GAMCOTRAP
on Monday, 26th May, 2014. The Executive Director of GAMCOTRAP, Dr
Isatou Touray in welcoming them gave a brief history about the organization
working in promoting the rights of women and girl-children. She noted the
sensitivity of the work GAMCOTRAP does on FGM while emphasizing it as a
development issue in which everyone has a role to play. FGM she said is a
global issue that needs everybody’s attention and contribution in order to
eradicate the practice because it is affecting the health and wellbeing of
women and girls. The visitors also showed appreciation to the work GAMCOTRAP is
doing at the grassroots and as well pledged to contribute to the global
campaign against FGM and other harmful traditional practices.
A group of thirty students from De
Montfort University in the United Kingdom visited GAMCOTRAP on the 10th
January, 2014. They were led by a well known Gambian Scholar– Dr. Momodou
Sallah who is based in the UK. The group was also accompanied by members of
Global Hands UK and their sister organization Global Hands The Gambia. The one
day visit was to expose them to the work of the organization and to share best
practices.
The
students were from different disciplines gained some knowledge in their various
areas of interest. They wanted to deepen their understanding on the practice of
FGM and its related consequences.
No comments:
Post a Comment