Msichana Initiative, together with the Association for the Termination of Female Genital Mutilation (ATFGM) Masanga, Hope for Girls and Women, Plan International and C-Sema in 2019 February hosted a Youth Conference in Tarime District, Mara region to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM. The conference was supported by UNFPA Tanzania, the European Union Delegation to Tanzania.

The conference brought together over 200 young people in a dialogue on positive social norms and type of leadership they need to end female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriages in their communities. Both boys and girls identified interventions that they feel have been effective in ending FGM and child marriages.

Panel discussion with young people, traditional leaders and a retired cutter (Ngariba) as well as presentations from the youth to government officials on actions needed to accelerate progress on ending FGM and child marriage helped to highlight what is working and what more is needed. 

The youth called for every community member, girls boys, traditional leaders, government leaders and citizens to play their part in ending this practice by 2030.