By Abigail Moisan
Every month, Sahiyo likes to highlight the incredible work of our staff members, fellows, and interns. Today, we’re spotlighting Sahiyo’s current Editorial Intern, Abigail Moisan. Abigail is a graduate from Colby-Sawyer College where she majored in Creative and Professional Writing and minored in Nutrition. She believes personal stories are the foundation for empathy and understanding and the cornerstone of change.
How did you first hear about Sahiyo?
I saw the job posting for the editorial internship and researched the company accordingly.
What was your experience of learning about female genital cutting (FGC) for the first time like?
I had only heard of FGC in passing prior to learning about Sahiyo. In learning about it, I had a lot of questions regarding why the practice continues, what external factors increase its prevalence, which cultures practice it, and how it differs from male circumcision. I was grateful that Sahiyo had their own research available on their website which answered a lot of my questions. FGC, like many other issues, is an issue that intersects with culture and circumstance. That being said, FGC has enormous physical and psychological consequences on survivors; I wanted to support the survivors in whatever small way I could.
When and how did you first get involved with Sahiyo?
I have been interning with Sahiyo since August 2025. I applied immediately after seeing the internship posting. Sahiyo is an interesting non-profit that is dedicated to helping survivors feel heard; it is a mission that I am very eager to support.
What does your work with Sahiyo involve?
As an editorial intern, I spend a lot of my time revising and editing blog posts and newsletters. I look for tone, grammatical correctness, clarity, organization, accuracy, and so on. Additionally, I write newsletter blurbs and update Sahiyo’s editorial data sets for the blog and newsletter.
How has your involvement with Sahiyo impacted your life?
FGC is, in essence, its own world. I didn’t give it thought, or really comprehend its existence until learning about Sahiyo. I’m glad to know about it now and do work that increases awareness of it. However, it begs the question: how many issues like FGC exist and are relatively unknown, either throughout the world, or in particular places within it? Working with Sahiyo has made me want to learn more about FGC and about other injustices which may not be as well known, but have far reaching impacts.
What words of wisdom would you like to share with others who may be interested in supporting Sahiyo and the movement against FGC?
I am not entirely sure that I am qualified to give words of wisdom on this topic, but remembering to practice empathy comes to mind, not only for the survivors but for the relatives of survivors – including those who perpetuate the practice. Culture is in nearly everything we believe and do – social norms dictate so much of our daily lives – that most decisions have long and overreaching causes that are easy to miss. This is what we have to understand first.
