Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL) Monday received a US$ 2000 gift from an informal women group working on development.

Donating the money, Programme Officer for Media for Peace and Human Dignity, Sharon Bylenga congratulated WIMSAL for their initiative in changing the face of media in Sierra Leone.

She called on these female media practitioners to apply their knowledge and experience in the media profession in Sierra Leone to advance issues of importance to women throughout the country.

Bylenga said although the organization is still shaping its priorities, "my women's group in Switzerland and I are very pleased to finish this 'seed' money for your evolving activities." She said her organization strongly supports UNICEF and other professionals working on the rights of children in the belief that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) can be eradicated.

She injected the fact that WIMSAL has an important role to play in ending FGM in Sierra Leone and called for the effective teaching of human rights particularly those related to women and children's rights.

"Collective abandonment of the issues of FGM is marked by a public statement that is sensitively covered by the media," she noted.

WIMSAL Public Relations Officer, Princess Gibson, said WIMSAL is geared towards enhancing the standard of female media practitioners and focuses on embarking on awareness raising programmes on issues relating to media and governance.

She said WIMSAL has also established partnerships for collaborative approach to issues, and also nurturing constructive relationships with key stakeholders in the society.

Gibson said WIMSAL has done capacity building training for its members through funds from members' subscription and has also observed the international day on zero tolerance to FGM earlier this year.

She however stated that WIMSAL has never received funding from an organization.