A rescue centre in the town of Narok, in the Masaai heartland, takes in young girls who are fleeing a traditional circumcision ceremony that can lead them facing health complications for life. Run by a group of Masaai elders who have had their lives threatened on several occasions, the centre is helping change cultural practices. But despite the Kenyan parliament passing a bill outlawing female genital mutilation earlier this month, the practice is still widespread. Duration: 02:09 00:02:09 PRWINT CodeNameMMV369315_TEN FileNameMMV369315_TEN-Mary Seela -Sarah Setoon -Pastor Jacob Momposhi Samperu, Founder, The Hope for Masaai girl rescue centre -Olemairuj Kipaken, Masaai Elder -Naramar KipakenSCRIPT: Mary and Sarah both ran away from home earlier this year. Along with 13 other Masaai girls in the town of Narok, they fled a traditional ceremony that has been part of their culture for centuries SOUNDBITE 1: Mary Seela (Swahili, 6 secs): "I came here because I did not want to be circumcised and married off and have to stop going to school. SOUNDBITE 2: Sarah Setoon (Swahili, 9 secs): "When girls are circumcised they have a lot of difficulties during childbirth that's why I refused to get circumcised." In Masaai culture, circumcision marks the passage from child to adulthood, but the procedure for girls, where the female genitalia is partially or totally removed -- sometimes on children as young as nine -- is extremely painful and can lead to lifelong health complications. A group of Christian Masaai men are trying to change this cultural practice of genital mutilation. The first step was to set up this rescue centre but it's not popular with everyone. The founder Pastor Jacob has received several death threats after taking girls in. SOUNDBITE 3: Pastor Jacob Momposhi Samperu, Founder, The Hope for Masaai girl rescue centre (English, 8 secs): "They can see you as someone who is opposing their original culture, their original nature." Changing cultural practices takes time. At the village of Limanet, Olemairuj Kipaken has six wives, all of them circumcised. One of his daughters ran away to the rescue centre to avoid it. SOUNDBITE 4: Olemairuj Kipaken, Masaai Elder (Masaai, 18 secs): "It is important for a woman to be circumcised so she can go to her husband's place. The Masaai people don't let their daughters marry unless they are circumcised, unlike the LUO or TURKANA. When she has had it done she becomes an adult. That is why it is good, she is in the position to go to a man's place." One of his wives though believes the practice has to stop, and she will do what she can to make sure her daughters escape the ceremony. SOUNDBITE 5: Naramar Kipaken (Masaai, 9 secs): "Generally circumcision brings disease and complications throughout the body." Earlier this month the Kenyan parliament passed a law banning female genital mutilation. But changing age old traditions, and allowing Masaai women to move out of the shadows, will take time. SHOTLIST: Narok and Limanet, Kenya, 20th - 22nd September 2011 SOURCE: AFPTV CU of Mary Seela and Sarah Setoon WS of Mary Seela and Sarah Setoon MS of trunks and books CU of hands SOUNDBITE 1: Mary Seela SOUNDBITE 2: Sarah Setoon MS of girl walking out of building WS of rescue centre MS two girls walking back into centre WS of centre with girls in front WS of Pastor Jacob MS of Pastor Jacob walking into church SOUNDBITE 3: Pastor Jacob Momposhi Samperu MS of young girl in village of Limanet WS of Olemairuj Kipaken MS of Olemairuj Kipaken WS of one of Olemairuj Kipaken's wives and children SOUNDBITE 4: Olemairuj Kipaken CU of Naramar Kipaken MS of fire SOUNDBITE 5: Naramar Kipaken WS of girls doing homework in rescue centre CU of writing WS of girls doing homework WS of girls doing homework -----------------------------------------------------
