Not many organisations can say they began life in Amy Winehouse’s living room.
But Mabel Evans, co-founder of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) awareness group the Vavengers, takes pride in having had the endorsement of the legendary singer.
Mabel spoke to City News about what she does and gave her younger self some sound advice.
Who Are the Vavengers?
An activist since she was 17, Mabel Evans is the co-founder of the Vavengers.
The group, otherwise known as the ‘Vagina Avengers’ is an organisation started in 2015, made up of people of different ages, cultural backgrounds, genders and nationalities working together and putting on events towards a common goal: to end FGM.
Mabel believes that FGM should be introduced to children to help them gain a healthy awareness of the issue, but that introduction should be made in the form of art.
“If I was a young child and I wanted FGM to be explained to me, I would’ve wanted it to be done through the arts,” she explained.
Part of the Vavengers “Lady Garden Series”, which is an exploration of the stigma surrounding the female form and experience. Credit: Instagram (thevavengers)
“If I was a seven, eight or nine-year-old child, I wouldn’t want someone coming in my classroom and telling me about something that could deeply affect me.
“I would’ve wanted to go through an understanding of women’s rights, and then FGM’s place within women’s rights,” continued Mabel.
‘Be More Sensitive’
When asked what advice she’d given her younger self, Mabel reflected:
“I should have been a bit more sensitive. When I was 17, I was sensitive, but I was on this mission, which made me seem a little insensitive.
When she was younger, if someone didn’t know what FGM was, Mabel would immediately be on the offensive.
Charlotte Colbert Ceramics on display at the group’s latest event. Credit: Instagram (thevavengers)
“Now I would try and talk to them about it, to explain it to them.”
All the proceeds from Vavengers events go directly to the charities they work with. Their fundraising is all survivor-led, meaning they work with survivors of FGM to get advice on where the funds raised should go.
Their aim is to engage those within their social spheres; using art as a vehicle for change.
The group wants to give emerging artists a platform to share their talent whilst also making a positive impact by using money from ticket sales to help combat FGM. They put on a range of events from music and poetry evenings to exhibitions and plays.
To learn more about what Mabel does, listen to the Afternoon Show.
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HeadlineThe art superhero tackling FGM: Meet the founder of the ‘Vavengers’
Short HeadlineMeet the art superhero battling FGM
StandfirstMabel Evans champions artists that help educate children on FGM
Not many organisations can say they began life in Amy Winehouse’s living room.
But Mabel Evans, co-founder of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) awareness group the Vavengers, takes pride in having had the endorsement of the legendary singer.
Mabel spoke to City News about what she does and gave her younger self some sound advice.
Who Are the Vavengers?
An activist since she was 17, Mabel Evans is the co-founder of the Vavengers.
The group, otherwise known as the ‘Vagina Avengers’ is an organisation started in 2015, made up of people of different ages, cultural backgrounds, genders and nationalities working together and putting on events towards a common goal: to end FGM.
Mabel believes that FGM should be introduced to children to help them gain a healthy awareness of the issue, but that introduction should be made in the form of art.
“If I was a young child and I wanted FGM to be explained to me, I would’ve wanted it to be done through the arts,” she explained.
Part of the Vavengers “Lady Garden Series”, which is an exploration of the stigma surrounding the female form and experience. Credit: Instagram (thevavengers)
“If I was a seven, eight or nine-year-old child, I wouldn’t want someone coming in my classroom and telling me about something that could deeply affect me.
“I would’ve wanted to go through an understanding of women’s rights, and then FGM’s place within women’s rights,” continued Mabel.
‘Be More Sensitive’
When asked what advice she’d given her younger self, Mabel reflected:
“I should have been a bit more sensitive. When I was 17, I was sensitive, but I was on this mission, which made me seem a little insensitive.
When she was younger, if someone didn’t know what FGM was, Mabel would immediately be on the offensive.
Charlotte Colbert Ceramics on display at the group’s latest event. Credit: Instagram (thevavengers)
“Now I would try and talk to them about it, to explain it to them.”
All the proceeds from Vavengers events go directly to the charities they work with. Their fundraising is all survivor-led, meaning they work with survivors of FGM to get advice on where the funds raised should go.
Their aim is to engage those within their social spheres; using art as a vehicle for change.
The group wants to give emerging artists a platform to share their talent whilst also making a positive impact by using money from ticket sales to help combat FGM. They put on a range of events from music and poetry evenings to exhibitions and plays.
To learn more about what Mabel does, listen to the Afternoon Show.
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