LUCIA does not wish to interfere with African cultures. Indeed, we support the African peoples own ideas and wishes as much as is possible, rather than trying to dictate how they should live.

However, there are some traditions that cause harm and suffering. Where this is the case and LUCIA has been approached by African people asking for support to combat such issues, we do our best to help.

One such example is Female Genital Mutilation. This painful and dangerous act is often forced upon young girls. Quite apart from the pain, some bleed to death or die from other complications such as infections or shock. It is sometimes done with less-than-sharp instruments, taking longer and making it even more painful.

In school playgrounds it is not uncommon to see a razor blade on the playground floor. If a girl is expecting that it may be "her time" then she will take the blade home in the hope that it's sharper cutting edge will get the suffering over more quickly than a more blunt object in her home would. When she is done with the blade she will take it back to school and drop it in the playground so that another girl can use it.

As well as the immediate risk to health from the act, this can also be another path for the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Yet, this is often carried out simply because it was tradition. In Ethiopia for example, it is a common belief that if a young girl is not circumcised, she will grow up to be clumsey. The parents cannot aford for her to be clumsey. They need her to be reliable and strong. So they follow the tradition.

LUCIA and it's partners help to run re-education programmes to help support those affected. This includes the re-education of both women and men.