Awareness campaign for the 2026 summer vacation
Together, let’s protect our little sisters!
A campaign for young people, created by young people
Every year, girls living in Belgium are at risk of genital mutilation during stays abroad. GAMS Belgium points out that nearly 12,000 girls will be affected if no preventive measures are taken. The campaign is therefore aimed at raising awareness, informing, and mobilizing people around this very real risk.
What makes this campaign unique is its participatory approach. It was conceived and implemented together with the young people from GAMS Belgium’s Youth Activists group, in collaboration with the communications agency PAUSE. The young people were involved in every step: contributing ideas, writing the script, determining the messages, and selecting the visuals.
De groep Youth Activists, opgericht in september 2024, brengt jongeren samen uit landen en gemeenschappen die te maken hebben met VGV. Door hun betrokkenheid kunnen er boodschappen worden uitgedragen die juister zijn, dichter bij de realiteit staan en meer aanspreken bij de nieuwe generaties. Het helpt ook om de stilte te doorbreken, de dialoog binnen gezinnen te openen en te laten zien dat jongeren ook actoren van verandering zijn.
Because summer vacation should stay fun
The campaign features a one-minute video available in French, English, and Dutch. In it, young people remind viewers that vacations should remain a time of joy, discovery, and reconnection, not a time of danger or violence. Their core message is clear: we must protect girls and reject all forms of female genital mutilation.
Several testimonials from young people illustrate the campaign. They highlight the difficulties of talking about FGM, the fear of consequences, but also the possibility of changing attitudes within families. Another testimonial, from the Youth Activists podcast “Through Our Eyes,” will be available starting in July 2026.
GAMS Belgium emphasizes that prevention remains essential and must draw on all voices, including those of young people. The campaign calls for collective action to ensure that all young girls are protected and that the summer holidays remain a safe, happy, and violence-free time.