ADVISORY: 22-yr-old Maasai Woman Speaks in NY Against Female Genital Cutting
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - September 19, 2013) - Nice Nailantei Leng'ete, a 22-yr-old Maasai woman speaking at CGI against female genital cutting, will be in New York available for interviews from Sept. 23 – Oct. 1.
“It was 4 am. My sister and I had to run away or we’d be cut in the ceremony.... Well, I escaped, but my sister was not so lucky. I will continue to demand that girls can grow into women without being circumcised. Every young girl in Kenya can become the woman of her dreams. I am, for sure.” Nice Nailantei Leng’ete
WHO: Nice Nailantei Leng’ete, a 22-yr-old Maasai woman from Kenya, spearheads the elimination of female genital cutting and with the support of AMREF, advocates for the adoption of alternative rites of passage for young girls.
WHAT: Media briefing
WHEN: Tuesday, October 1st, 4-6pm (Reception afterwards across the street 6-8:00pm)
Nice’s presentation begins at 4:30 sharp. One-on-one interviews arranged afterwards.
WHERE: AMREF offices, 4 West 43rd Street, 2nd floor, NY btw’n 5th & 6th tel: (212) 768-2440
WHY: A crusader for her time, Nice's journey is full of courage and triumph of the human spirit. Her story is one of change and determination to see young African girls empowered with a choice about their own bodies and futures. Her dream is that African girls grow into women without being cut. A leader in a traditional, male society, Nice’s quest highlights how women in Africa are actively shaping the communities in which they live.
About Nice Nailantei Leng’ete
Born in a remote village on the slopes of Kilimanjaro, 8-yr-old Nice ran away from home to escape the Maasai tradition of female genital cutting as the passage to womanhood. Now a national advocate for alternative rites of passage, Nice travels throughout Kenya with AMREF to bring change to youth in her community and others like it. Having told her story at TEDx in Amsterdam last year, this is Nice’s inaugural visit to the US to address the Clinton Global Initiative.
About AMREF
The African Medical & Research Foundation (AMREF) is an African-led health development NGO. Working in more than 35 countries across Africa, AMREF focuses on the most critical health challenges facing the continent, including maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, clean water and sanitation and clinical and surgical outreach. Since its inception in 1957 as the Flying Doctors of East Africa, AMREF has trained over 600,000 health workers. www.amrefusa.org
RSVP & interviews contact: Sharon Rainey rainey@amrefusa.org Tel: 212 768-2440 Cell: 646 345-6855
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