Training and Consultancy

Brief Profile of Trainer

Trainer is survivor of FGM Type 4 and child sexual abuse: Now Advanced Social Worker, trainer, Practice Educator and globally renowned gender expert

Dr MuzvareHazviperiBetty Makoni (MSc in Social Work, Royal Holloway University, UK, MA Practice Educator (Anglia Ruskin University), BA Honours, BA General University of Zimbabwe), and a Zimbabwean native and founder of Girls Empowerment Initiative UK CIC has achieved so much in her lifetime. Her track history of achievement shows that she has achieved for others more than for herself. She has worked to uplift, empower, inspire and educate thousands of girls in Africa and around the world. Her career spans over 22 years as a gender activist and girl child rights champion, mentor, trainer and consultant for gender.

Newsweek (2011) named her as one of the 100 women who shake the world along Secretary Hillary Clinton. She is Ambassador for many global movements fighting for children’s rights. To her honour are over 70 Global Awards including CNN heroes, Global Children`s Rights Award alongside the Late President Nelson Mandela. Recently, she was honoured with the first ever Life Achievement Award by Women4Africa. Dr Muzvare’s Life Achievements show how tenacity, resilience and upholding values and principles of honesty, hard work, passion can build a better world.

Dr Muzvarewas officially conferred the Title Muzvare- Her Royal Highness the Princess for saving girls lives by Makoni Tribal Chiefs and people of Rusape, Manicaland, Zimbabwe.

University of Essex honoured Muzvare with an Honorary Doctorate Degree on 17 July 2019.

Course content

Training on Female Genital Mutilation and 30+ related harmful cultural and religious beliefs, attitudes and practices bringing new knowledge on all four types of FGM, children who may be trapped and high prevalent communities. Practitioners will be equipped on spotting the signs, how to use FGM Orders and working with families with historical FGM. Knowledge and skills to assess affected children and families in a culture sensitive way but upholding safeguarding will be imparted during training. This is a fully packed day which provide practitioners a time to reflect on practice.

A practitioner’s pocket handbook with details of FGM and 30+ harmful cultural and services to refer service users will be provided to you.

Exploring FGM and ALL 30+ harmful cultural and religious practices, attitudes and beliefs.
Research findings on social workers' attitudes to FGM Type 4 and other hidden harm.
Practising communities, detecting harm and children who may be trapped.
Information and knowledge gaps on hidden harm and ALL 30 harmful cultural practices-Language as a communication barrier.
Developing an awareness on positive cultural practices in BAME communities-using strengths-based approach to building good relationships with families.
Building empowerment and emotional resilience for professionals affected or exposed to historic hidden harm.
Risk assessment and 1-2-1 empowerment support for victims, survivors and girls at risk: Unpacking the Girls Empowerment Journal.
Girls Empowerment Model as preventative strategy
Role of Girls Empowerment Initiative UK CIC as specialist provider in BAME communities-the family and community approach.
Harmonising legal frameworks and unconventional traditional laws- Awareness on what the law says versus what the family does (Protection Orders versus Family Order).
Starting inclusive community and family conversations on hidden harm and crime in culture-creating a culture of prevention.
Referral and who to contact for support during assessments and interventions-working in partnership.
Evaluation of Training and Post training support.

Aims of the training

The training aims to address 30+ harmful cultural practices including Female Genital Mutilation.

A City University London study on the, ‘Prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation in England and Wales’ outlined the FGM Prevalence in Essex (including Thurrock and Southend) as the highest county, with the number of estimated females at risk of FGM across all age ranges as 7331 in total. The study identified Maldon as having the lowest risk with 61 women and girls at risk and Thurrock being the highest with 2412 at risk. Awareness in the UK about the ongoing use of harmful cultural and religious practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM) has improved, but many girls are still at risk.

Most training in this field highlights the practices but falls short of equipping practitioners with skills to challenge beliefs and attitudes which uphold these practices today.

We have teamed up with other professionals who are working with these girls, to develop highly specific training that will help to:

1. Raise understanding of the problem and inform about all 30+ harmful practices. 2. Educate professionals in ways to help identify girls who are victims or at risk of harm. 3. Share ways to help families get support with awareness in the context of culture. 4. Share positive cultural practices which can be shared with families to develop their strengths and foster safeguarding.

Importantly, participants will receive 1:2:1 support from our team in any cases they deal with after the training.

Unique aspects of the training

This training is unique in that it takes a holistic approach, sharing knowledge on practices other than those that are most widely understood, such as FGM Type 1 ,2 and 3, honour-based violence, and forced marriage. It looks covers a range of 30+ harmful practices that place women and girls at risk. We believe that sharing knowledge on one more than another creates hierarchy of abuse, and our training can help to overcome this perception.
The team of experts providing this training have learnt from experience that harm does not start with a practice, but a belief system based on patriarchal values which view women and girls as sex objects and second-class citizens.
This training draws the attention of professionals to ways in which they can use community facilities to engage families. Key to this training are belief systems in families that may be viewed as the norm and finding strategies to bring laws and policies on safeguarding as an awareness within context of culture which goes a long way in creating a culture of prevention.
Whereas there is general awareness on FGM cutting, there may be other groups of children who may be trapped in other harmful cultural practices. This training provides insight into how grooming of children is done and what signs to look for when assessing children who may be at risk.
The role of professionals is explored beyond the office setting and focusses on how voluntary sector and children’s services can collaborate. We will also explore ways to limit promotion of hidden harms via social media, by parents and cultural activists.
Local authorities and other agencies can make referrals of some complex cases at a nominal rate which is negotiable for service users and practitioners to access support.
This training course breaks taboos and participants discuss uncomfortable topics. There are also graphic images and narratives to demonstrate the effects of different harmful cultural practices on girls.