By Ragan M Conteh

Born Perfect, a group of young women who were initiated through the bloodless Bondo rite, on 28th and 29 December, celebrated their five years’ anniversary.

The celebration was marked in Port Loko city, and it started with a candle night parade followed by a football match played between bloodless bondo women and  Bondo society females.

The former defeated the latter by 2 goals to nill at the Port Loko Stadium.

The 5th year celebration was organized with a jogging activity in the various streets of Port Loko city undertaken by women of the social group.

During that advocacy messages about the elimination of FGM were disseminated to people. The day also marked an hour’s radio program at Bankasoka radio station.

Addressing hundreds of participants at the jogging event, the Executive Director of the Amazonian Initiative Movement (AIM-SL), Madam Rugiatu Neneh Turay, thanked the leadership of Born Perfect social group for commemorating the day.

Madam Turay told the mammoth gathering that the day is going now to be celebrated each year as a way of honoring some of the brave women who’ve chosen to go “uncut” on their genitals, avoiding the normal unlike Bondo ritual requirements.

AIM’s advocate said when they started the bloodless Bondo rite, some people were stigmatizing the women and girls who have formed a social group.

She said but that was due to lack of knowledge at the time.

She said they moved to support them because they thought it was the right thing to do.

She added “now there is no more stigmatization,” she said.

She thanked her partners for supporting them in their strides to protecting women and girls.

The President of Born Perfect women, Hellen Neneh Turay, in her brief statement, said she was delighted to have organized the celebratory event, while thanking AIM’s boss for giving them the space to freely express their rights.

She noted that “Dec 27, 2024 marks five years’ journey of advocacy and impact.”

Born perfect Ladies is a dedicated group of ladies who are fghting to discourage FGM.