 I am happy to be alive. I really love my job and I'm very excited to see you. Yes. My name is Valentine or at Color Me Vow and we are just kicking off Queens Wednesday. So we just had our first link with Joy, Auntie Hilda and I and I told you like I promised we're gonna talk about FGM today. That is female genital mutilation. I have a very beautiful queen here with me and we are gonna take off this conversation. So if you got questions what you should do, Y2Five on Facebook, at Y2Five for China on Twitter, hashtag is Y in the morning. Let's get to it. Good morning. Good morning. Give me sauce, come on. I just gave you a big, big good morning. Good morning. Yay. And I'll smile for the camera and tell them who you are. Yes, my name is Antonia. I'm coming from Germany and I'm working on FGM. Mm-hmm. What is Zenduka? And why Zenduka? Why that name? Zenduka. Yeah, Zenduka. It means like the shimmer of hope and like waking up, coming to realization. How did you know that? Mm-hmm. Yeah, I'm in Kenya since 2011. I came the first time. Yeah, so I learned a little bit of Swahili. Kidoga, Kidoga, yes. So I was taught that name and I really liked it, yeah. So what does Zenduka do for us? Zenduka is an organization, a charitable organization. I founded it first in Germany and also now in Kenya and we work against FGM and yes, we work to empower the girls and to save them from female genital mutilation in Korea. And why specifically in Korea? Why? Because I came there in 2011 and I did like a project with an NGO and it was also concerning FGM and I met that community and I just went back there. Magic. Yes. Like it's home, yeah? Yes, yes. Oh my gosh, we have a canyon, guys. Ordinary canyon. I want to know what is the one thing about female genital mutilation that made you feel like, hey, you need to check on this. You need to fix this. Like Africa needs to change. What made you feel like that? When I first came, I didn't know anything about female genital mutilation. Like I'm coming from Germany and Europe, but it's not being practiced and I met this culture and I saw how people are celebrating it and how girls are suffering from it and yeah, this is, I could not believe it. So I really wanted to work on it and I wanted to show them that it's also possible to grow up and be educated without going through that cut, yes. They're telling me it's cutting season. First of all, who says that at the cutting season? My guy. Oh my gosh. So what happens in cutting season? In cutting season, this is in Korea right now. Right now? Right now. While I'm thinking about Christmas, someone is all gone. Some people are being cut right now. Yes, it's the period of where the girls are being cut and also the men. And it's like in every tribe, it's different. But right now, in Korea, it's every December, every two years. So in 2016, it was being practiced and right now it's also, yes. Hey, wow, it's like graduation. Like every other couple of years, you have a new badge. Okay, why Kenya? Why not Tanzania? Why not Rwanda? Kenya? Yeah, I don't know. I came because I chose a program and it dealt with FGM. So it just took me to Kenya because of that program. Did you believe the stereotypes on TV that generally Africans are just, they're sitting there hungry. There's a child somewhere crying with a fly right about them, their nose. Did you believe that's what you're gonna see in Kenya? No, no. Really? Yeah. You have stood open mind, I like it. I really do. Thank you. Okay, so do you guys have events or things like that? Do you fundraise money? How do you help these people who are? Yes, it's completely fundraising. And like in Germany, I'm studying and I do all this work as a volunteer. And we, like I talk to a lot of organizations and people and they are giving out their donations. And now in here in Kenya, we have a, we have a team and we give a lot of classes to community members throughout the whole year. And not only, we don't only work during now with this cutting season, we have been working for a long time, sensitizing on FGM. And yeah, we work with all the people who are concerned, not only girls, also boys and parents and the elders. Very smart. Yeah, it's very important to work with all of them. So, and right now we have a rescue camp where the girls are, like we mobilized them and we registered a lot of girls. We have 160 girls right now. And they are, we have them for the whole period until Christmas. And then they are going to have a ceremony which is called the alternative ride of passage. Alternative, so what happens there? There they, like now they have been educated the whole time. And this ceremony is an alternative to the cut. So, like for example, some people undergo the cut because they want to have presents. Like I had a girl who wanted to be cut last week because she wanted to have new shoes. So. Baby, you want me to buy for you new shoes? You don't have to get cut. For real? Yes, yes. So it's also a big thing of poverty, yeah. And on this ceremony, the girls are getting the, they get also their celebration of growing up of becoming an adult and that we don't want them to miss something. Yes. Did she eventually get her shoes? Excuse me? Did she get her shoes? She's going to get her shoes, yes. Merry Christmas, babe. We were able to save her and she will get the shoes. Yay. Don't get cut, babe, okay? All right. So in the beginning of the show, we had a link and we're three of us and they were letting me know that it's, kind of considered culture. Because, okay, today's Jammu Hui Day. Happy Jammu Hui Day again. And it depends for our girls. Yay. And it's Queens Wednesday. Hey, the stars have aligned. Okay, so there are people in the society who think FGM is part of our culture, who think FGM is not something that we should give up just like that, that it's the Western world kind of messing up our train of thought. How do you deal with people who are so set in stone to not hear you out? Yes, with them, like me, as a mozungu. Hey, Kwanzaa, yeah, yeah, just. I can't really deal with them. And you know, and also it's a culture. And I can't come and I can't forbid the culture. So it's very important to just sensitize them and not, I'm not coming to forbid them their culture. And actually the culture is very nice. I really like the culture. And yeah, but the problem is on FGM that it has a lot of bad side effects. So we are just giving out the information on educating them. And actually, my Canyon team is working very well and they really do a good job on that. Where did you find your team? How did you assemble? I have been working with them for a long time and they all, it's people from within the community who also want to end FGM, yes. All right, so are there people that you have met who have undergone the cut and now are trying to help girls not? Yes, yes, yes. Is it a majority of them? It's like half, half. Half, half. Like from the girls. We have some girls who have underwent the cut and they, because for them it was the worst experience they had. They want to help others not to undergo the same. So they are very ready to educate them. And it's also very good to have them because me, I'm not cut because my culture doesn't practice. So, yes. Please don't get cut. No. Don't do research like that, please don't do it. Okay, what's the worst part about it? Is it the actual pain of the day when you're getting cut or is it the things that happen after? I hear you can even get complications when it's time to give birth and all this. Yes, yes. Yeah, I think it's the complications that are going to follow. I mean, the cutting itself, it's very horrible and I can't imagine having this kind of pain. But like in future, you have, I know many, actually many girls who have a lot of problems, like bad cramps during the period. They have problems with fistula, with, yes. Fistula is so intense. Yes, yes, yes. And also like giving birth, if you have this scarf, you can't, it brings a lot of problems. And yeah, the girls can also, like the children can die. Like we don't have enough things to worry about. Post-natal, what, depression, something, now, FG. Ah, ah, ah, no, leave the girl child alone. Would you like to give a special message to people watching you? First of all, wish them a happy Jammu. It will sound nice coming from you. From this day. Yes, yes. And then, yeah, just something special because our demographic is largely the youth. So we are kind of looking up to you. She's very young, actually. She, eh, her CV has made me question my life. Like, what have I been doing with all my years? But it's okay. Oh, I see a video. Is that you? Yes, yes, yes. Did you go to confuse those children or to teach them? No, to teach them. Yeah, Zungu. To teach them. Did they come touch your hair? Like, wah, of course. But now, you know, they're very used to me. They know me since seven years, so, yes. This is your family. Yeah, actually, we have, yeah, we have a, that's my team and yeah, my Canyon family. And we also have some volunteers. So they come with different projects and yeah, this was our first video. Who is the guy standing, auntie? Who are these in the peripherals? Which one? Not this way. Ha ha ha. Yeah, I want the musician. He disappeared. He had something on his head. Pull up, pull up, pull up, rewind selector. It's okay. So what are we looking at? These are the kids. Yes. And actually we have a new video. It's going to come out like today or tomorrow. Yes, and it's talking on FGM, sensitizing everyone because we want to take out the awareness to the world. What do you mean new video? Like a music video? Yes. Auntie Hilda, since you are recently a music video, we also want to make sense for over here. Yeah, we have beats for, beats for girls. We are ready. Oh, you don't need that kind of video. Maybe. All right, so I'm happy Jamu, we're ready to wrap this up. Yes, yes, yes. I can call upon all girls to fight for their independence. Like today is the day of independence and Kenya also made it possible. So I think every girl is able to achieve that and I can encourage everyone to fight for their rights. Yes. Well, all right. A journey of. Of angel. Yeah, this is actually the skit for the new video. Oh, yeah. Eh, namme act. Wow. Yes. All right. Auntie, what is the substance? It looks like cement dust. Yeah, they apply like some flour. For what? What's the purpose? To be beautiful. To be beautiful. Yes. So that's like equivalent to makeup. Yes. Why do you know more about my country than me? We got to work together now. We'll go to Korea together. Please. You're most welcome there. This is embarrassing. Our girls and yes. Ah, man, but it's a good thing you're doing. Do people support you back in Germany? Or do they think you're crazy? Yeah, yes. They do. You know, we like our aim is to use education against mutilation. Yes, that's our slogan. And we really work on the education very much. And this is also what people support. And if they know me personally and they know I'm also in Kenya, this personal connection brings a lot. Oh, wow. I like meeting phenomenal people every day. So I feel very blessed to have met you, man. Thank you and for everything you're doing. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, I hope that so far it's 160. I know that number is going to multiply as we continue with the years. But guys, Merry Christmas. And you're getting new shoes back. All right, so say bye. Bye. Social media handles. Sorry. Zenduka. Yes, it's on Instagram, on Facebook, yes, on Twitter. So we can be part of it. Can we be part of the process? Yes, yes, yes. You have to be part. Yay, it's a family. You're most welcome. All right, guys, so Umeskia. Zenduka on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and all these. Yes. And as we are at Y254 on Facebook, at Y254China on Twitter. Hashtag is white in the morning. And personally, if you want to slide in Samadze M, get color Miva, like Valomarangi. Thank you so very much for staying with us on this segment. We've been talking about female genital mutilation on this Queens Wednesday. On this is Jamu Hooridia. Now, next up is Breaking Views. And I told you guys, I want you to give some special, special love to Joy. OK, we're going to give her support. Do you understand? Support and affection and some love. And then let's tell her hi on social media. Yeah, do that. Also, later on, we're going to have a link from the celebrations on the grounds of Nyaya Stadium. So you don't want to miss that. It's going to be lit. I saw auntie at Vivian Degua looking very fantastic this morning. You don't want to miss it, OK? Namazakonga, I'll see you in a bit.