A special resource pack prepared for all those who want to engage youth around the issues of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting and Child & Forced Marriage ahead of the Girl Summit 2014. For more information visit: http://www.voicesofyouth.org/en/sections/featured/pages/-youthforchange--getting-ready-for-the-girl-summit-2014

1. Girl Summit 2014
Youth Survey
Tool Kit Resource pack designed to support the
Girl Summit 2014 Youth Survey.

2. Girl Summit 2014 Youth Survey Tool Kit
1. What is the Girl Summit 2014?
On 22 July 2014 the UK Prime Minister and UNICEF will co-host Girl Summit 2014, aimed at mobilising efforts to end female
genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) and child and forced marriage (CFM) within a generation.
In developing countries one girl in nine marries before age 15; one in three marries before the age of 18.1
Early marriage
ends a girl’s education, exposes her to life-threatening complications during pregnancy and childbirth and leaves her
vulnerable to domestic violence. More than 125 million girls and women2
alive today have suffered some form of FGM/C
in the 29 countries where the practice is concentrated. You can see the 29 countries here: http://goo.gl/h41YRv. It is an
extremely damaging practice which has a devastating, life-long impact on girls’ and women’s physical and mental health
and well-being and their opportunities and can even cause death.
In December 2012 a UN General Assembly resolution, led by the Africa Group called for a global ban on the practice. There
is strong African leadership in place, and increasing numbers of women and men in communities, religious leaders, and
national policy makers are driving movement on these issues. There is now a real chance to end FGM/C within a generation.
Whilst this survey is focused on finding ways to end the harmful practices of CFM and FGM/C linked explicitly to girls and
women’s experiences, it is important to note that boys and men are also vulnerable to CFM. However, as a large proportion
of women and girls are affected by early and forced marriage this survey will focus on delaying the age girls marry. Data
shows that 1 in 9 girls in developing countries marry before the age of 15, the girls often have a lack of choice of when to
marry and often marry an older person which can limit their life choices.
2. What is the role of young people?
The UK Government and UNICEF, with support from Plan UK and NSPCC, have convened a Youth Advisory Panel to support
the development of this event and a youth event - #YouthforChange - that will be held on Saturday 19 July. The panel’s role
is to make sure that the views, experience and recommendations of young people from around the world are heard and
acknowledged by those working to address FGM/C and child and forced marriage.
The Youth Panel consists of members from Cameroon, India, Malawi, Pakistan and the UK. The panel members feel it is
important to collect the views of young people from all over the world. Therefore, they have developed a youth survey.
They hope you will help them to promote it within your communities.
3. What will happen with our information?
a. Once we have collated all your feedback, the Youth Panel will look at all the information and pull out common views
and key messages coming from young people across the world. The Youth Panel will then draft a Youth Action
Statement.
b. This information will then be presented at the #YouthforChange event on 19 July, where more young people will be
able to input and debate the findings.
c. The Youth Panel will then finalise the Youth Action Statement.
This statement will be shared at the Girl Summit 2014 – with ministers and leaders from across the globe.
4. What is in this pack?
1
http://unfpa.org/files/live/sites/unfpa/files/youngtowed/Marrying%20Too%20Young%20-%20Executive%20Summary.pdf
2
UNICEF web page http://www.unicef.org/protection/57929_58002.html

3. a. Safeguarding information
b. Information about FGM/C
c. Information about CFM
d. How to hold a voices of youth focus group with young people
e. How to submit findings from your voices of youth focus group
a. Safeguarding information
Take this survey out to young people in your communities to gather their opinions about these issues. In order to help you
do this we have provided ideas of activities that you can run with your communities to get their feedback.
When you are running any activities it is important that your session is:
1. Accessible and inclusive – It is really important that your workshop is accessible to young people from all parts of the
community so the survey includes a diversity of voices. This means making sure your session does not leave anyone out.
Think about how you will recruit a diverse range of participants and which groups in your community are often overlooked
- what things might you need to put in place to make sure they can participate? It will also be important to not use acronyms
or language that some people might not understand. A checklist for selection criteria may help below:
 Gender
 Age of participants (both younger and older children)
 Religion
 Rural versus urban
 Regional balance
 In and out of school
 Socio-economic background
 Ethnic background
 Children with disabilities
2. Providing Information to children-The young people participating in the focus groups should be given good information
on the topics of the focus group they are being asked to participate in. It helps them decide if they want to be involved and
if necessary choose the best representatives. Using the checklist below remember to:
 Provide children with clear information
 Objectives of the focus group, time line and what will happen with their responses
 The information given should be available in relevant languages and child friendly formats
 The venue and date of focus group
 The programme and activities being planned
 The number of participants
 The facilitators
3. Planning the focus group-When planning and designing the focus group please bear in mind that activities are suited
to the needs of the participants. By gaining prior information on the participants you can plan your sessions to cater to their
needs in advance. If for example, there are a higher number of participants that have experienced FGM/C and CFM then
you may not need to share as much new information when introducing the topics. Similarly if participants aren’t aware of
these issues they will need more information on FGM/C and CFM. You will need to be aware of the way discussions are
affecting participants and be attentive to their needs. . The below tips may be helpful:
 Make sure you set out realistic time frames for each activity
 Create time at the beginning of the focus group for participants to get to know each other
 Allow for a maximum amount of time to be spent in small groups, work in smaller groups has proven to be more
participatory and less intimidating

4. 4. Participatory – It is essential that young people in your session are able to actively participate and share their views.
Make sure that it is possible for everyone to participate, not just those with the loudest voices - think about ways in which
you can check that everyone has understood the information (for example by asking participants to recap the main points
at the end of each session) and ways in which you can ensure that everyone has a chance to speak (for example by making
sure it is not always the same participants presenting and making sure that there is a balance between girls and boys who
are speaking). Some participants will need more support than others to ‘find their voice’ so think about how you can create
a safe space where everyone’s opinion is valued (for example give encouragement to those who speak out for the first time
and ensure that participants are supporting each other). However, do not force people to speak – it must always be
voluntary.
5. Planning the logistics-budget and venue In most cases a budget will have to be prepared to include costs of :
 Travel
 Material costs: Photo copying, printing, stationery, flip charts, pens, all languages are catered for
 Venue: ample space and light for activities, equipment, video access, water, child friendly, residential area, disabled access
 Documentation: rapporteur, video recording, tape recording
6. Safe - Child and forced marriage (CFM) and female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C) are very sensitive subjects
and people in the group could be affected by the discussion differently. Therefore, it’s important that young people’s
feelings are sensitively managed during the consultation. This means putting in place the following measures:
 Be attentive at all times
 Change the activity/language if young people seem uncomfortable
 If you don’t know, say so
 Monitor the energy level
 Be culturally sensitive
 Invite feedback
7. Gaining consent
Make sure that each young person has consent from their parent/guardian/carer to be there and that giving up the time
to be there will not be difficult on them. If you are planning to take photographs or video footage you will need to make
sure the young people are happy with this and get consent from their parent/guardian/carer by asking them to fill out a
consent form in advance of the focus group. You also need to let them know how their photo/video might be used. Please
be prepared to send consent forms to Partner organisations as footage maybe used at the Youth Event or Girl Summit.
8. Where to go for help
When dealing with issues that some people might find upsetting it is important to be able to put them in touch with
someone who they can talk to if they get upset. So before you start the focus group session find out who in your local
area is working on issues of child and forced marriage and female genital mutilation/cutting. Then during the focus group
session you can share the details with the group in case anyone wants to contact them after the session. If there is no one
working on this issue in your local area contact Maggie Thomas at Plan UK for support. Her e-mail address is
Magdalene.thomas@plan-uk.org
9. Take five
Let the group know that, if at any time they feel either uncomfortable or just want a break, they can ‘Take Five‘ – find a
quiet space for five minutes to collect their thoughts and take a break. Just remind them to let someone know where they
are going.

5. 10. Online
You might need to go on line to carry out research or to upload your results. It is important that if you do go online that
you keep yourself safe and know what to do if someone is nasty to you. Do not share your personal information with
people as you can’t be sure who you are talking to. For other tips visit: goo.gl/7Gxaxu
Further information on ensuring minimum standards when consulting with those under 18 can be found here:
http://goo.gl/bAAD3P
b.Female Genital Mutilation and cutting (FGM/C)
What is it?
“All procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs
for non-medical reasons” 3
. FGM/C is violence against women and girls, and a human rights violation. It is a common practice
across many parts of the world that is thousands of years old, which is largely concentrated in Africa. Ending it means
supporting positive change in how communities that practice FGM/C value girls and women and respect their rights. There
is a growing Africa-led movement to end FGM/C. Women and girls, community and religious leaders, politicians and First
Ladies are campaigning for change.
Key Facts and Statistics
 .125 million women in the world today have undergone FGM/C; 30 million more girls are at risk over the next decade in
Africa alone. More than 125 million girls and women alive today have been cut in the 29 countries in Africa and the
Middle East where FGM/C is concentrated.
 The practice is almost universal in Somalia, Guinea, Djibouti and Egypt, with prevalence levels above 90 per cent.
 In most countries where FGM/C is concentrated, the majority of girls and women think it should end.
 Overall, a similar level of support for stopping FGM/C is found among both women and men, but large percentages of
women and men are unaware of what the opposite sex thinks about FGM/C.
Resources on FGM/C
Video clips
Daughters of Eve FGM/C
Ban FGM.org video in French
UNICEF video (for those age15 and over)
Reports on FGM/C
 UNICEF report
 Forward – FGM Information & Support Services Guide
 Forward FGM FAQ
3
World Health Organisation website http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/fgm/en/

6.  UNFPA report
 UNFPA dashboard on FGM/C
FGM/C infographics and posters are under annex 1
c.Child Forced Marriage (CFM)
What is it?
Child marriage is defined as a formal marriage or informal union entered into by an individual before reaching the age of 184
.
CFM is a violation of girls and women’s human rights and can be harmful to girls and women as well as wider society. It can
reduce girls’ choices and control over their lives and puts them at greater risk of dropping out of school and dying through
early childbirth. Change is happening; women and girls and their community and national leadership are working together
to end CFM.
Key Facts and Statistics
 14 million girls under the age of 18 marry each year
 In developing countries one girl in nine marries before age 15; one in three marries before the age of 18
 Girls with low levels of schooling are more likely to be married early. In Mozambique, some 60 percent of girls with no
education are married by 18, compared to 10 percent of girls with secondary schooling.
Child marriage can lead to having babies at an early age which can lead to medical complications for the girl whilst giving
birth. Girls under 15 are five times more likely to die from giving birth too young
4
UNICEF 2011

7. Where does child, early and forced child marriage happen?
Resources on CFM
Video clips
 The world we want: End child marriage
 Traditions can change: Ending child marriage
 The video project
Reports on CFM
 UNFPA report on CFM
 A girls right to say No to Marriage – Plan UK report
 Girls Not Brides Info Sheet
CFM infographics and posters are under annex 2

8. d. How to hold a voices of youth focus group
Session Plan:
Aim: To collect the views of young people on Child and forced marriage (CFM) and female genital mutilation and cutting
(FGM/C)
Length: 3 hours
Number of people: 10 -20
Resources: flip chart paper, pens. Optional: camera – stickers, string, art materials
Activity Description Time
Welcomes Welcome the group, let them know the aim and format of the
session and quick introductions
10
Energiser Get the group energised and working together 5
Setting the scene Share information on Child Forced (CFM) marriage and Female
Genital Mutilation (FGM/C) and the role of youth in leading
change
15
Activity 1 What are the Causes of CFM and FGM/C 30
Activity 2 Girls voice and choice 30
Activity 3 How this can be stopped? 40
Break Take a break – give everyone time for a drink and the toilet 10
Activity 4 Youth ideas for change 20
Activity 5 Working with leaders 20
Evaluation This is a chance from the group to reflect on the session and what
worked well and what needs improving.
20
Welcome session
Duration: 10 minutes
 Introduction – explain to the group who you are, why you are doing this consultation, why their opinions are
important, how to keep everyone safe.
 Speed introductions – This is a quick and energetic activity that will help the group get to know each other.
1. Think of 8/10 questions to ask the group that will help them get to know each other. For example – Where does your
name come from? What is your favourite food? Which country would you like to visit? Why have you come today?
2. Get the young people to stand in pairs facing one another
3. Shout out 1 question and give them 1 minute to answer the questions
4. Then they all find a new partner to answer the next question. Again give them 1 minute.
5. Carry this on until you have completed all your questions
 Group agreement – It is important that the group agree how they want to work together during the session. Ask
group members to shout out rules they want to abide by for the session.
1. Some examples are: Listen to each other, respect each other, no mobile phones
2. Write them on a flip chart paper as they say them
3. Once the young people have finished get them all to sign the piece of paper – agreeing to follow the group
agreement.
Energisers: This is a quick and energetic way of getting the group to work together.
Durations: 5 minutes

9.  The sun shines on you!
This is a great icebreaker for people who have just met. It’s sure to get some laughs and you might find out some interesting
facts about each other. It can be played with any size of group but the more people the better!
1. Ask the group to sit in a circle (on the floor or on chairs).
2. The facilitator should stand in the middle of the circle to explain the rules and demonstrate for the first round. With
one person in the centre there should be no spare seats or space in the circle.
3. The person in the centre will say a statement starting with ‘The sun shines on…’. For example they might say, ‘The
sun shines on everyone wearing blue.’ Everyone in the group who is wearing blue will have to get up and move to
another seat while the person in the middle will also try to find a seat to sit on.
4. Whoever is left without a seat has to stay in the centre of the circle and make the next statement.
5. The game can be continued for as long as you want or until the group runs out of fun statements – probably 5
minutes.
Setting the scene:
Duration: 15 minutes
Explain that the voices of youth focus group is a chance for young people to tell world leaders what they think about issues
such as FGM/C and CFM, and how young people can contribute to ending FGM/C and delaying the age young boys and girls
marry.
 Ask participants: Do any of them know what Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) or Child Forced Marriage
(CFM) is? Write down what they say on the flip chart. Then once they have finished you can share some of the
information outlined above. If you know an organisation working on these issues in your area you could invite
them to work with you on this section.
 Once the group all understand what FGM/C and CFM is you can move on. As we have said this focus group is all
about the voice of young people. Get the group to stand up and ask the group “Do you feel you have the
power/opportunities to make change happen at the community level?
- If they say ‘Yes definitely’ they should move to the left of the room.
- If they say ‘Yes but it is limited’ they should stand in the middle.
- If they say ‘No young people do not have the power to lead change in their communities’ they should go
and stand on the right side of the room.
Record how many people have stood in which place. Then ask them why they have chosen to stand there.
This exercise should take 6 minutes.
Activity 1: Causes
Duration: 30minutes
Context:
This activity will focus on understanding why young people think FGM/C and CFM occurs in their country. The aim is to
understand the top three reasons. The online survey gives participants multiple choices, from which they select their top
three reasons:
 It is part of the tradition and culture
 Because of religious reasons
 In order for a girl to be considered for marriage
 So that a girl is accepted by society

10.  To preserve a girl’s virginity
 Girls who are younger get a higher bride price
 Because their families are poor
 Girls who are younger get a higher bride price
 Because of a lack of education
 Because parents and grandparents support it
 There is no law in place to prevent the practice
 There is a law, but no one enforces it
 Other
Causes Problem tree
Divide into small groups. Half of the group works on CFM and the other half working on FGM/C (or if one is not relevant for
your context all focus on the same issue). Draw a tree like the one below. Write the issue you are focusing on in the tree
trunk. Then spend 15 minutes discussing the causes of that issue and writing them on the roots – as shown below. Try and
think of all the causes and why they are the causes. For example, if you put poverty, why is there poverty in the first place?
Think really hard. Once you have finished chose your top 3 causes. You then have 2 minutes to feedback your top 3 causes.
Activity 2: Girls Voice and Choice
Duration: 30 minutes
Context:
This exercise is about understanding:
 Whether girls who have undergone FGM/C or experienced CFM have made the decision themselves.
 And who girls feel able to talk to about these issues
The facilitator can spend two minutes talking through the options below.
 Friends who are the same sex as me
 Friends of both sexes
 My mother
 My sisters
 My father
 My brothers

11.  My grandparents
 Other family members
 Neighbours
 Teachers
 Community leaders
 Youth leaders
 Religious leaders
 Healthcare workers
 Other, who
I am a girl
Divide the group into small groups half discussing CFM and half discussing FGM/C (if one does not exist in your country just
work on the one issue). Each small group needs a large piece of paper. On the paper draw a picture of girl with a big speech
bubble.
In her head: write all the people who give information and tell her about FGM/C and CFM.
In the speech bubble: write who the girl might talk to about these issues, is it her mother or her friends, what might be her
concerns or questions?
At the bottom of the paper write the statement from the list below that you agree with:
a. Yes, they chose to be cut
b. No someone else decided but they were still happy to be cut
c. No someone else decided for them, they did not want to be cut
Activity 3
Duration: 40minutes
Context:
This part of the focus group is about finding solutions to end FGM/C and CFM. We want to understand what opportunities
young people think there are in their country to stop these practices. This exercise should also identify who young people
think are the best people to help drive change to end FGM/C and CFM are.
How can this be stopped?
Get the group to stop and close their eyes. Ask them to imagine it is 100 years from today and that CFM and FGM/C no
longer happens in your country. That girls and boys in their communities are able to reach their true potential. And that
the last case of anything like this happening was 30 years ago. Ask them to think how this feels? Then ask them to open
their eyes.
Divide the group into small groups again and ask them what three things are the most important to end FGM/C and CFM
in your country. Give them the following statements and ask them to pick out their top three. If individuals in the group
have other ideas (that aren’t below) they should write down their ideas on paper and add to the statements. Give the
groups 20 minutes to rank them and then 2 minutes to feedback.
 Improve sex and relationships education at school
 Provide safe spaces and support groups for young people to talk about the issue
 Improve access to and value of girls’ education
 Improve economic (job) opportunities for women and girls
 Enhance female leadership in the country
 Provide stronger support services to girls and women who have been cut
 Engage with communities to change attitudes and behaviours
 Conduct media campaigns to raise awareness
 Work with people from practicing communities currently living overseas to influence their friends and families in-country

12.  Other, please state:
 I do not think that FGM/C should be stopped
In the same groups ask who they think needs to be involved in a movement to end FGM/C in their country? Give them the
following statements and ask them to pick the top three. This should take 5 minutes and then 30 second to feed back.
 Girls themselves
 Young men and boys
 All young people
 Mothers and older women in the community
 Fathers and older men in the community
 Religious leaders
 Political leaders
 Community leaders
 Healthcare workers
 Cutters
 Other, please state:
 Everyone needs to be targeted
 I do not think that FGM//C should be stopped
Activity 4
Duration: 20 minutes
Context:
This activity is about hearing young people’s views on what they think they can contribute to making a change and ending
FGM/C and CFM. This session should be a brainstorming exercise giving the group a chance to think freely and creatively
about how they feel they can be involved. Part of this exercise is about linking their solutions to what global and national
leaders can do to support young people to end FGM/C and CFM.
Youth ideas for change
This is a creative session to really visualise the change that young people want to see on this issue. Initially the group
should discuss what actions young people can take to create change – as an example this may include:
 Raising awareness within their own community
 How these issues are discussed within the community
 What the government can do
Each group will have 10 minutes to discuss the how they think young people can make a change and help to end FGM/C
and CFM. They should then feedback their top 1 idea to the group using a creative method – so this could be drama, music,
story board or comic strip or other artwork that shows the actions of young people having an impact on the issue of FGM/C
and CFM.
Activity 5: World Leaders
Duration: 20 minutes
Context:
This activity gives young people the opportunity to think about what action they want world leaders to take. They should
think about how they would voice their ideas for change to leaders in their country and the world. Part of this exercise is
about asking global and national leaders what they can do to support young people’s solutions (from the last exercise) to
end FGM/C and CFM. If they had the opportunity to tell global and national leaders about their ideas on ending these
practices what they ask them to do?
Ask participants to work individually. They should imagine they are walking along the road and they see a world leader
maybe their president or Prime Minister – and they have 1 minute to let the leader know:

13.  What young people want to do to stop the problem ?
 What young people want world leaders to do to help support them?
Write this down and then divide into two groups to present your speech in 1 minute. One group should work on CFM and the
other group on FGM/C.
Evaluation: It is really important that we give the group the opportunity to evaluate the session and share how they felt it
went. Below are two activities you can use to do this.
Duration: 20 minutes
Target! - (Duration 10 minutes)
This is a way for the group to share their opinions about the day. On a flip chart draw a target and divide it into 3 – like the
example.
In the 3 sections write 1 of the following statements:
 We achieved our goal
 It was enjoyable
 I feel my voice was heard
Give each participant a pen and they should mark on the page how they would rate each question. The better is was the
closer to the centre the sticker should go. See the example for how it should work.
Web of reflection – (Duration 10 minutes)
Using a ball of string, construct a web of appreciation. Standing (or sitting) in a circle with your group, hang onto the end of
the string and toss the ball to someone else in the group. State a reflection from the session or something that you will take
away from the session. The receiving person does the same until everyone in the group has become part of the web. The
resulting web symbolizes the connectedness of the group, the available support, the trust factor and the hard work that's
been done and is still to come.

14. e. How to submit findings from the focus group
After you have finished your workshop it is really important that you write up your findings and send them to Maggie
Thomas on Magdalene.thomas@plan-uk.org.
Please you the form below to submit your responses. The form is available for download HERE.
Number of participants
Male/Female
Age range of the group
Country
Scene Setting: Do you feel you have the power/opportunities to make change happen at the
community level?
Fill in how many people said each of the statement below:
1. If they think ‘Yes definitely’ they should move to the left of the room. ______
2. If they say ‘Yes but it is limited’ they should stand in the middle. ______
3. If they say ‘No young people do not have the power to lead change in their communities’
they should go and stand on the right side of the room. _______
Comments: (please add any extra information you would like to share from your group discussion)
Activity 1: Top 3 causes of CFM
Please list the top 3 causes from each of your groups
Comments: (please add any extra information you
would like to share from your group discussion)
Activity 1: Top 3 causes of FGM/C
Please list the top 3 causes from each of your groups
Comments: (please add any extra information you
would like to share from your group discussion)
Activity 2:Girls Voice and Choice on
CFM
Her head – where do girls hear about CFM?
Speech bubble – who do girls talk to about CFM?
Statement- who’s choice is it to get married?
Comments: (please add any extra information you
would like to share from your group discussion)
Activity 2:Girls Voice and Choice on
FGM/C
Her head – where do girls hear about FGM/C?
Speech bubble – who do girls talk to about FGM/C?
Statement- who’s choice is it to get cut?
Comments: (please add any extra information you
would like to share from your group discussion)

15. Activity 3: How can CFM be stopped –
top 3
By who? Top 3
Comments: (please add any extra information you
would like to share from your group discussion)
Activity 3: How can FGM/C be stopped –
top 3
By who? Top 3
Comments: (please add any extra information you
would like to share from your group discussion)
Activity 4: What do young people want
to do to stop CFM?
(list what the group said or add photo graphs &
videos if you have them)
Comments: (please add any extra information you
would like to share from your group discussion)
Activity 4: What do young people want
to do to stop FGM/C?
(list what the group said or add photo graphs &
videos if you have them)
Comments: (please add any extra information you
would like to share from your group discussion)
Activity 5: What is the role of world
leaders to end CFM?
(share some quotes from your participants)
Comments: (please add any extra information you
would like to share from your group discussion)
Activity 5: What is the role of world
leaders to end FGM/C?
(share some quotes from your participants)
Comments: (please add any extra information you
would like to share from your group discussion)

16. Annex 1 FGM/C infographics and posters

19. Annex 2 CFM infographics and posters