16-year-old Caroline Kanana discusses the alternative rite of passage. Photo by Debbie DeVoe/CRS

During the Easter school holidays, 150 adolescent girls in central Kenya will undergo an alternative rite of passage. Instead of heading to a secluded area for their traditional passage into adulthood, they will spend a week living at a local school attending workshops. Community volunteers will teach them about traditional lore, health issues, and important skills, including how to be a good wife and care for children.

These girls’ seclusion will be very different than the usual ritual. While they will learn the critical lessons they need to become women ready to marry, they will avoid being circumcised–a cultural practice still undertaken across much of Kenya and many other countries.

Liz Quirin, editor of The Messenger-the diocesan paper of Belleville, Illinois-recently met with girls who had undergone the alternative seclusion and wrote a powerful story about this CRS-supported project. Watch our own Web site too, as a story from my prior visit will be posted soon.

- Debbie DeVoe, regional information officer for East Africa

Francisca Vigaud-Walsh, CRS sexual and gender-based violence program manager, reports on her presentation at this week’s Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington, D.C.

I just had the privilege of presenting Tuesday, alongside Sr. Louise Cleary (of UNANIMA International), on violence against women. I talked about sexual and gender-based violence, while she talked about human trafficking – or the sexual exploitation of women and girls.
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An Egypt Today article reports on CRS programs that help women become economically and politically empowered.

According to the article, “Microfinance loans from the existing CRS program start at LE 500 and can increase over time, with repayment schedules varying according to the circumstances of the borrowers. However, it is not the sum of money that is important. The concept of group lending, that is, loans guaranteed by a group of women who will meet the payments of any member of the group that defaults, prepares borrowers for the political process. Each group must have an elected leader, and each individual has a responsibility towards the group. Democratic concepts are established through microfinance.”