Christine Alfons

The death of a loved one is never easy to cope with, and the changes that follow can also be difficult to come to terms with. This is a situation that Christine Alfons understands having experienced loss when her father passed away when she was eight. Financial burdens began to weigh heavy on the family soon after. Even at that tender age, Christine was eager to find ways to contribute and help her mother make ends meet. She was aware of the monetary gifts that girls in her community received after undergoing Female Genital Mutilation. For this reason, the idea of undergoing the cut took root in her mind. 

Regressive Rites 

Among the Kuria community in Migori County, Female Genital Mutilation remains a dire issue. Every two years, girls aged 10 to 12 are taken through this rite of passage. UNICEF data collected in 2017 showed that the rate of FGM in the Kuria community was 78 per cent. Once a girl undergoes the cut, she is literally showered with money as she walks back home from the circumcision area. The gifts continue to come through even when she goes into seclusion and after she has fully healed. Having grown up as a part of this community, Christine knew of the immediate benefits of undergoing FGM. She shared this perspective with her mother, who was vehemently against this decision. Thus began the uphill battle of trying to keep her daughter from making a life-altering decision. 

Persona Non-Grata

As time went by, more and more of Christine’s agemates were taken through this ritual while she remained chained to her mother’s firm refusal. Christine became an outcast among her peers and was even branded the name “mosagane”, a word that is used derogatorily to refer to an uncircumcised girl. The peer pressure she experienced as an adolescent girl only compounded Christine’s initial feelings about the cut. She was willing to take unimaginable risks to earn her standing.  

One afternoon, health workers visited Christine’s school and spoke to the young learners about their reproductive health and the dangers of FGM. A paradigm shift took place in Christine’s mind, and she began to unlearn the beliefs she held. She no longer wanted to undergo the cut and she informed her mother as much. Once certain of Christine’s complete change of heart, mother confided in daughter about the reason for her father’s passing. He stood against his community by refusing to let Christine undergo the cut. For this, he paid with his life. Learning this information was heartbreaking for Christine, but she chose to turn that pain into power. It was at that point that she made the decision to fight for other women’s reproductive health when she grew up. 

Creating a Sanctuary for Women 

15 years have passed since this momentous occasion in Christine’s life, and she has stayed true to her resolve. After completing her high school education in 2011, Christine volunteered at a community-based organization called Education Center for Advancement of Women. This organization was geared towards educating the community on the dangers of FGM. Christine’s volunteer experience taught her a lot about creating awareness on sexual and reproductive health. 

In 2012, she put her volunteer work on pause as she left for the University of Karatina to pursue a degree in Actuarial Science. While at university, she began thinking of ways to initiate change in her community. Beyond educating the public, she also wanted to empower women by equipping them with income-generating skills. In 2016, with her bachelor’s degree attained, she returned to Kuria to see her vision to fruition. This is how she came to establish Safe Engage Foundation. This Foundation became a resource centre for women and girls in Kuria who needed economic empowerment. Christine facilitated handicraft workshops led by skilled female crafters and intertwined these sessions with conversations about reproductive health. 

The Social Impact of COVID-19

The onset of the pandemic led to the closure of schools. This situation not only deprived learners of education but also put many young girls in Migori at risk of undergoing FGM at the hands of their parents. During this time, Christine ramped up her work and provided shelter to girls fleeing their families during the cutting season. This became the bedrock of her work at Safe Engage Foundation, and through her efforts many girls were (and continue to be) spared the coercion of undergoing this regressive rite. In 2021, Christine’s dedication to keeping women safe was recognized as she was awarded the World of Difference Award by The International Alliance for Women.  

Through her work, Christine challenges societal norms and works hard to create a safer world for women and girls. No doubt, there are more awards in her future, and we continue to cheer her on as she scales her path to greatness. 

#KeExcellence