Preventive Education on the Practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Hiran region. The Preventive Education project continues to address Female Genital Mutilation, which is widely practiced in Somalia. This project resulted from the outcome of the pre-assessment carried out by MRDO on Female Genital Mutilation which is one of the most harmful and humiliating practices that have ever existed. Perhaps only the practice of burying young girls alive in pre-Islamic Arabia surpasses it in cruelty. FGM is a term used to refer to the removal of part, or of all female genitalia. The most severe form is infibulations, also known as pharaonic circumcision. Circumcision, the external genital mutilation of young girls is widely practiced in Somalia, and most severe of the three types of circumcision, infibulations, is the most common. Nearly every woman undergoes one form of genital mutilation or another, the majority 80% undergoing its severest form, infibulations. It goes without saying that the practice of infibulations is deeply imbedded in the culture and in the psychology of Somali people. 90% of Somali women are circumcised. The main reason is that the old customs and traditions are inherited from previous generations. This was a one-year grant project initiative aimed at putting an end female genital cutting. The project was funded by Local Organization (MRDO) in Somalia.
The project activities included the following:

•  Training of Trainers Workshop (TOT)
•  Prevention of Female Genital Mutilation Workshop.
•  Awareness rising through Radio, and Magazines
•  Placards, Flags and other awareness rising
•  Eradication of Female Genital Mutilation through Trainings.