“As a coach, the girls trust me,” she said. “They tell me things they can’t tell anyone else, about being pressured to undergo female genital mutilation (FGM), about being told to stop school, about relationships that put them in danger. »
In some rural and hard-to-reach parts of Uganda, female genital mutilation remains a serious human rights violation and public health problem. For girls in Sebei communities, this is linked to deeply ingrained gender norms that also increase the risk of child marriage, school dropout and violence.
Yet in schools and on race tracks, change is beginning to be felt.
A coach, a track and a secure space
Ms. Cheptoek is working with the Joshua Cheptegei Development Foundation, in partnership with the United Nations Reproductive Health Agency (UNFPA) and the Joint Program of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), to eliminate FGM using sport as an entry point to reach young people – particularly girls – who are often excluded from opportunities.
“This mindset underestimates their social, intellectual and cultural potential,” she said. “Sport helps us challenge that.”
For many girls, resisting harmful practices comes at a high personal cost. Those who refuse female genital mutilation may face pressure, ostracism, and even violence, because they are seen as rejecting the tradition.
Female genital mutilation – modification or damage to the genitals for non-medical reasons – is often followed by child marriage and early school dropouts. All these phenomena are closely linked to poverty, which is both the origin of these harms and reinforced by them.
From community runs to classrooms
Every year, a Christmas race brings together boys and girls from all over Sebei. But the event is not limited to competition. From these races, 12 girls are selected for educational sponsorships that help them enroll in college.
“Most of these girls come from communities where female genital mutilation is still practiced,” Ms. Cheptoek said. “Without sports and education, many of them would already be married or out of school. »
As girls begin to thrive in athletics and the classroom, attitudes slowly change.
“Some parents now realize that athletics can transform not just an individual girl, but the entire community,” she said. “When these girls run, they are fleeing harmful practices and heading towards a future that they choose for themselves. »
Learn about safety, rights and self-esteem
Ms. Cheptoek also offers age-appropriate counseling on sexual and reproductive health, as well as advice on personal safety and psychosocial support.
She helps girls overcome the pressures that can come with visibility and success in communities where women’s independence is still contested.
“Girls who become successful athletes are often told, ‘You should stop running and get married,'” she said. “But financial independence and education give them choice.”
These discussions have become even more urgent following the murder of Ugandan long-distance runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who died in 2024 after being attacked by her former partner following a land dispute.
“We are talking about security because we don’t want to lose any more women,” Ms. Cheptoek said. “Female athletes become more vulnerable because they challenge traditional gender roles, but no woman should be punished for exploiting her potential. »
“Female athletes are becoming more financially and socially independent, which can trigger violence in a society that still believes a woman should stay in the kitchen, cook and take care of children,” she said.
By supporting community-based, survivor-centered approaches, UNFPA and its partners ensure that girls and women can live free from violence.
From sport to freedom
For Ms Cheptoek, the objective is clear.
“Sport should give girls freedom, not put their lives in danger. »
Through these efforts, hundreds of young people, parents and community leaders in Uganda are receiving messages to end female genital mutilation, promote sexual and reproductive health and rights, and advance gender equality.
UNFPA and its partners support survivor-focused community efforts that help girls and women live free of violence, access accurate health information and services, make informed choices about their bodies, and realize their full potential.
