Advocacy Travel Scholarship
The Advocacy Travel Scholarship offered by Sahiyo U.S. supports active Sahiyo volunteers and program participants in attending conferences, workshops, advocacy events, and training sessions to enhance their advocacy work related to supporting FGC survivors and preventing FGC. This scholarship covers travel-related expenses, enabling recipients to engage meaningfully, gain new insights, share experiences, and collaborate with like-minded individuals at various levels.
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Application Criteria:
To ensure the scholarship serves its intended purpose and reaches individuals who are genuinely committed and whose FGC advocacy efforts can benefit from these opportunities, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Affiliation: Applicants must be active volunteers or participants in Sahiyo's programs with a demonstrated commitment to ending FGC for at least one year.
- Advocacy Experience: Preference for individuals who have actively participated in advocacy campaigns, community outreach, or related activities (i.e., FGC research), and individuals interested in getting more involved in these types of efforts.
- Event Relevance: The event applicants are interested in attending should be about FGM/C, or other related topics such as gender equality, human rights, or advocacy training.
- Post-Event Commitment: Applicants must commit to sharing their learnings and experiences with the Sahiyo community through blog posts, presentations, social media posts, or other agreed-upon formats.
Type of Events:
The scholarship supports attendance at events that facilitate advocacy against FGC or related public health intersections, promote gender equality, and enhance the skills of the participants in these areas.
Events might include and are not limited to:
- Conferences and Seminars focused on women’s rights, gender equality, FGC, public health, and other related topics.
- Workshops and Training Sessions that provide skills in advocacy, public speaking, or community mobilization.
- Symposiums and Panel Discussions where thought leaders discuss strategies to work to end FGC and other forms of gender-based violence or related public health issues.
- Networking Events that allow advocates to connect with other organizations, policymakers, and activists in the field.
The Association for Asian Studies 2024 Annual Conference featured a panel titled “Cultured Bodies Beyond Boundaries: South Asian Narratives of Female Genital Mutilation.” The panel discussed FGM's prevalence and perpetuation in South Asia, highlighting recent studies and activist engagements. Topics included the practice's impact on bodily autonomy, the intersection of FGM with gender norms, and culturally informed solutions.
The Advocacy Travel Scholarship supported two dedicated volunteers at this event:
Nevin Sulthan S N: A PhD Scholar from Delhi University, Nevin presented an autoethnographic account of FGC in Kerala, India. Her insights highlighted the cultural and social dynamics of FGM within her community.
- Research Presentation Title: Mute Memories of Mutilation: Contextualizing FGM in the Sunni Muslim Communities of Kerala, India.
Read more about how Sahiyo helped Nevin Sutherland attend the 2024 Asian Studies Conference.
Umme Kulsoom Arif: A lawyer, activist, and writer, Umme discussed the impact of FGM on queerness and sexuality in the South Asian diaspora in America. Their presentation emphasized the intersectionality of FGC with broader issues of identity and human rights.
- Research Presentation Title: Boxed in: Considering the Impact of FGM on Queerness and Sexuality in the South Asian Diaspora in America
Read more about Umme’s experience at the conference: That Old Familiar Violence - Reflecting on AAS 2024