In the pr
edawn stillness, Little Rhobi could hear the rhythmic breathing of her younger sisters and brother beside her. She sidled out of bed, her feet silently hitting the dirt floor, and passing them with a final glance, slipped outside just as the sun began to rise. Her feet carried her quickly toward the jungle, a route chosen to avoid encounters with relatives or members of her village. She made her way along the path swiftly and silently, hiding in the bush whenever she thought she heard someone approaching. It was the season of migration for elephants, lions and buffalos, and Rhobi suppressed thoughts of encountering herds of wild animals. She had come this far, and somehow felt protected, as if she was in God’s pocket. The endless plains of the Serengeti stretched out behind her as she made her way toward the Safe House.
The firstborn of eight children, Rhobi grew up in a small village, where she walked to school each day and helped out at home by cleaning, fetching water and sweeping the compound during the dry season. She enjoyed being the oldest, and liked to teach things to her younger sisters and brother. When Rhobi was eight years old, however, her mother declared that she needed to undergo the initiation rituals of female genital mutilation (FGM). Rhobi felt devastated by this news, and begged her mother to not do it. She had heard that you could die from that, and was terrified. No matter how hard Rhobi tried to convince her mother, she wouldn’t give in, insisting that as she had given birth to her, Rhobi must do as her mother wanted. Rhobi gave up trying to convince her, but secretly promised herself that she would never be cut. She decided to run away, but first needed someone to help her, and somewhere to go.
One day not too long after that, visitors arrived at Rhobi’s school. The timekeeper rang the bell, calling all students to the assembly grounds. Rhobi was curious and then excited to learn that these visitors were educators from Hope for Girls and Women Tanzania, who spoke and then showed a film telling of the effects of FGM. She knew that this was the answer she was looking for. She asked the visitors how to escape being cut, and they gave her information about the Safe House at Misitu and a telephone number to call.
After school that day, Rhobi returned home to find her mom sitting outside their house. She greeted her a bit nervously, summoned up her courage, and asked to speak with her. Little Rhobi told her mom about the visitors and the film, and said once more that she didn’t want to be cut. Her mom angrily insisted that Rhobi must undergo FGM as it was part of her culture, while beating her with a spoon. Little Rhobi knew that it was useless to fight any longer, and that time was running out. The school holidays were approaching, and the FGM ceremonies would soon begin. She had to plan her escape.
The following morning, Little Rhobi went to school as usual. She decided to ask her teacher for help, and explained that she was in danger. Madam Emanuela asked Rhobi to wait until the next week, and then she would see what she could do. Disappointed, Rhobi felt that her situation was too urgent to wait, so she decided that she would run away to the Safe House. That same day, her mother had gone to Mugumu, leaving her alone with her young sisters and brother. It was the perfect chance to escape!
Once out of her village, Rhobi kept to the worn path and headed in the general direction of the Safe House. She had been walking for hours when she encountered a woman who was from the area of the Safe House. Relieved, she got directions and soon found herself at the gate. All at once, she felt intimidated, as she had never knocked on someone’s gate before. A security guard appeared, and took her to the office. After a social worker listened to her story, she told Rhobi that she was safe, and that she had done the right thing by coming there. The social worker introduced Rhobi to the staff and the other girls living at the Safe House. At once, Little Rhobi felt at home. She was welcomed and shown a warmth that she had never expected. She looked in the faces of the girls there, and saw hope and love.
Little Rhobi has been at the Safe House now for four years. She leads a different life now, sharing a bedroom with eight girls and attending a good school. She receives love, kindness and support for her education from Tom, Jane, and Giselle. She feels safe from FGM and is happy. She loves all her subjects in school, and her dream is to become a doctor so that she can help others. She loves to read and talk with her friends. She goes home to visit her family, but always returns to the Safe House. She loves that Mama Rhobi has dedicated her life to helping girls like herself escape FGM, and admires her courage, power, and confidence. She describes her as patient, lovely, and doing her work from the bottom of her heart. This is what Little Rhobi was running toward on that December morning four years ago: safety, love, and opportunity. The courage it took was all hers.
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Photography: Rhobi Samwelly