In Mali, it is common for a girl to have her clitoris removed before she reaches the age of 13. Excision, often referred to as female circumcision or female genital cutting, is the practice of cutting off some or all of the external female genitalia. In its most common form, it entails the partial or complete removal of the clitoris and vaginal lips (labia minora). At its most extreme, it involves stitching or narrowing the vaginal opening. Female genital cutting is commonly practiced in parts of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, and Susan McLucas, founder of a Healthy Tomorrow, is working to stop it.

McLucas’s interest in excision resulted from hearing a story about a woman who underwent the procedure right before her marriage. She spent three days suffering before she died, a disgrace to her family. " I began reading more about excision, and became more and more horrified, " says McLucas. " It was on my mind all the time, so I figured if you’re to be thinking about something all the time, you might as well do something. "

A peace and environmental activist who runs the Bicycle Barn and Riding School in Davis Square, McLucas has spent a total of over two years in Mali, where she estimates that excision is practiced by 90 percent of Malians. In Mali, many believe that without excision " women will run wild and run after the men. It’s seen as diminishing women’s appetite, " says McLucas. That would be an understatement. According to the World Health Organization, health consequences range from hemorrhage and pain, cysts, and scars to painful sexual intercourse, childbirth complications, incontinence, and death. The historical beginnings of the practice are lost, and today many people perform it solely out of a sense of tradition, says McLucas. " People think, ‘It’s a tradition, we have to do it.’ " But for her, the history is secondary.

" It’s good to understand the reasons behind excision, " says McLucas, " but I try to stick to the message. " And the message is that female genital cutting must stop. McLucas and others will try to get that message across on Saturday night. Healthy Tomorrow, a humanitarian organization that works closely with Malian partners, including Siaka Traoré and Sadio Sylla, is presenting a report and silent auction to benefit Project Stop Excision. The evening will include a slide show, a discussion with Ethiopian activist Sergut Wolde-Yohannes about fighting against excision in Boston, an auction of African art and photographs, a performance by Senegalese traditional/hip-hop group Gokh-bi System, and much more.

While McLucas hopes to eradicate the practice, she acknowledges that such a goal shouldn’t involve imposing Western ideals, but rather empowering those who experience excision, or members of excising cultures who want to stop it, to do so themselves. " A lot of people talk about not wanting to feel the impetus from the outside, " she explains. " That’s why I have Malian collaborators in everything I do. "

With the Saturday event, McLucas hopes to educate the public about the campaign against female genital cutting, and mobilize people to take action. It’s also a fundraiser; Healthy Tomorrow needs to raise $50,000 to finance the next year of their project. McLucas also seeks to encourage people to work for causes other than her own. " I’m hoping to inspire people that if they have something they’re inspired to do, even if it’s unusual, even if it seems crazy, they should go ahead and try and see what happens, " she says. " A lot of amazing things can work out. "

The Report and Silent Auction to Benefit Project Stop Excision takes place Saturday, November 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the College Avenue Methodist Church, 14 Chapel Street, Somerville. For more information, call (617) 776-6524.