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Black Women's Health and Family Support works in three main areas:


1. SOMALI AND OTHER BLACK COMMUNITIES IN LONDON, IN PARTICULAR TOWER HAMLETS (go to)



2. LOCAL PEOPLE IN THE BURCO REGION OF SOMALILAND (go to)



3. POLICY MAKERS AND FIGURES OF AUTHORITY IN BRITAIN AND INTERNATIONALLY (go to)

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1. The original focus of BWHAFS's work was to support Somali and other black women in their struggle to eradicate the harmful practice of female genital mutilation (FGM). This entailed a wider understanding of the reality of life for refugee women in London, and recognition that FGM was not necessarily the most important or pressing issue. A holistic approach by the organisation means that projects dealing with women's general health and social issues are addressed alongside programmes specifically designed to eradicate FGM. BWHAFS has diversified since its early days, and now a significant focus of the organisation involves working with young Somalis to help them achieve their full potential. The needs of newly arrived refugees, as well as second- or third- generation Somali-Britons, who are at risk of underachievement at school, social exclusion or drug abuse, are addressed through sport, recreation and educational programmes. We also work with single parents, elderly women, unemployed and untrained women, especially mothers, and the wider black community in Tower Hamlets and throughout London.

2. The Barako Health and Education Centre in Burao, Somaliland is the sister organisation of BWHAFS, and works with disadvantaged groups of the local community. Like BWHAFS, the focus of Barako is on the prevention of FGM, but again holistic programmes that deal with the difficulties of all sectors of the population are necessary in order to address the issue of harmful traditional practices. To this end, Barako/ BWHAFS work to educate young children, in particular girls and women; to support and train young unmarried mothers and victims of domestic violence; to alleviate the conditions of Internally Displaced People (IDPs) fleeing the conflict in the south; and to provide health care and education for all those in need, in tandem with providing information and raising awareness about FGM and other forms of violence against women.

3. BWHAFS works nationally and internationally to raise the profile of the practice of FGM, amongst policy makers, opinion formers (such as clan elders in Somaliand), religious leaders and statutory authorities. As well as organising a number of international conferences, members of the organisation frequently attend such conferences to contribute to the worldwide debate over the issue from our perspective as both a grassroots, and a respected international organisation. An integral part of BWHAFS's work since its inception has been working in tandem with networks of women's and community organisations. This enables us to have a strong collective voice and to lobby governments and statutory agencies to adopt culturally sensitive strategies for dealing with FGM, as well as the other issues which we and our partners deal with. BWHAFS also promotes academic research into the subject of FGM and other harmful traditional practices.