In communities where tradition often outweighs choice, a growing coalition of African First Ladies and the Merck Foundation is working to change the balance, one classroom and one household conversation at a time.
At the center of this effort is Dr. Rasha Kelej, who has renewed calls for sustained investment in girls’ education as a frontline strategy to end female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage, and the stigma surrounding infertility. “Education equips girls not only with knowledge, but with voice and choice. It gives them the confidence to question harmful norms and the tools to build independent futures”, she said in Monrovia.
While public campaigns against FGM have existed for decades, advocates say the real battle is being fought in rural and underserved communities where the practice remains deeply embedded in social identity. Through initiatives like More Than a Mother and Educating Linda, the Foundation and its First Lady partners are pairing advocacy with practical support like scholarships, school supplies and culturally relevant media content designed to resonate locally.
In villages across countries such as Liberia, Kenya and Nigeria, educators and community health workers report a gradual but noticeable shift: more parents are choosing to keep their daughters in school, delaying early marriages and questioning long-held beliefs about FGM. A teacher in rural Liberia, who has worked with scholarship beneficiaries, described education as “a protective shield”. Girls who stay in school, she noted, are less likely to undergo FGM and more likely to advocate for themselves and their peers.
The Foundation is also leveraging storytelling to challenge stigma. Its pan-African television program, Our Africa, blends drama, testimonials, and expert insights to address sensitive issues often left unspoken. Broadcast across multiple African countries and online platforms, the program has become a conversation starter in homes and schools alike. Community screenings that sometimes held in open village squares, are followed by discussions led by local leaders and youth advocates. This media approach is complemented by annual awards recognizing journalists, filmmakers, musicians, and designers whose work confronts FGM and promotes girls’ education, helping to normalize public dialogue around previously taboo topics.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 230 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM, with Africa accounting for the majority. Behind the statistics are lifelong physical/psychological consequences, complications in childbirth, chronic pain and trauma. Advocates claim that education directly disrupts this cycle. Girls who complete secondary education, are significantly less likely to be subjected to FGM or early marriage. They are also more likely to access healthcare, participate in decision-making and contribute economically to their communities; creating a ripple effect that benefits families and future generations.
Through the Educating Linda program, over 1200 scholarships have been awarded to high-performing, underprivileged girls across 19 African countries. The support represents more than financial aid, it is a pathway out of vulnerability for many recipients. One scholarship recipient in West Africa, now studying science, said the program “changed how my family sees my future”. Once considered for early marriage, she is now the first in her family on track to complete secondary school.
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