Engaging communities in the work towards eradicating female genital mutiliation and early and forced marriage: Edna's story.

Edna's journey as a Community Expert working alongside ActionAid began over a decade ago with the goal of preventing and eradicating cases of female genital mutilation and early and forced marriage, starting by listening to the needs of communities.

"My work focuses primarily on creating safe spaces for dialogue and awareness," Edna explains, "where women and men of all ages can speak openly and gain awareness."

Addressing complex issues like female genital mutilation and early marriage alongside communities means approaching them with respect, without denying the past or traditions, but rather fostering a shared reflection that focuses on awareness, protection, and rights.

Edna is Community Leader of the SAFE project, guiding colleagues in their communities and bringing political demands and advocacy to meetings with political institutions in Milan.

Thanks to her work, approximately 2,300 women, girls, men, and diaspora associations in the communities have been reached through awareness-raising and empowerment initiatives.

Project outreach involves the organisation of training sessions, community activities, film screenings, youth initiatives, and coordination and advocacy actions at European level. Over the years the project has also trained 900 professionals between Milan and Rome.

The European project SAFE, Support and Aid for Female Genital Mutilation and Early and Forced Marriage, in which ActionAid Italia is a partner and coordinated by Terre Des Femmes, is the continuation of the European CHAIN and Join our CHAIN projects, aimed at preventing and combating practices that violate women's rights, particularly female genital mutilation and early and forced marriage.