Sahiyo understands that being a survivor of female genital cutting (FGC) is just one moment of your life and only one part of who you are as a person. Oftentimes, being labeled as a survivor can prevent people from seeing a person in any other context beyond survivorship.

Our campaign, #MoreThanASurvivor, explores our individuality and shows the world what makes us unique. After all, who we are is made up of all the moments in our lives, not just one.

Interview:

Where do you live? 

Mumbai, India 

Where’s the favorite place you have traveled to, lived in, or would like to visit?

Favorite place I have traveled is Himalayas and Kashmir, and one place that I would love to stay at is Mecca, Saudi Arabia

What are some of your passions?

I am passionate about psychology and combining it with spirituality.  And just life in general. 

What does an average day look like for you?

An average day is mostly just waking up, thinking about college work and what to eat and watch on Netflix.

What are some things you do for self-care?

Twice a week is my pampering session where I do my mani-pedi and other things to take care of my physical appearance. And for my inner self I practice mindfulness and strengthen my faith in Allah.  

What are five words to describe you?

Compassionate, Lazy, Genuine, Driven and Anxious 

What are your hobbies?

Writing in my journal and reading up new things until I get bored of it. Painting, too.  

What is your profession or what career would you like to be in? 

I am studying to become a psychologist. 

What did you want to be when you grew up? 

As a child I really wanted to become a rockstar, and after that it has always been a psychologist. 

What is your favorite food? 

Anything that is absolutely yummy! 

What is your proudest achievement? 

My proudest achievement is how with every passing day I am able to manage myself and difficult situations better. Sometimes I surprise myself at how well I cope with things that used to affect me a lot before.  

What is a hidden talent that you possess? 

I think my intuition is my hidden talent.

Sahiyo understands that being a survivor of female genital cutting (FGC) is just one moment of your life and only one part of who you are as a person. Oftentimes, being labeled as a survivor can prevent people from seeing a person in any other context beyond survivorship.

Our campaign, #MoreThanASurvivor, explores our individuality and shows the world what makes us unique. After all, who we are is made up of all the moments in our lives, not just one.

Interview:

Where do you live? 

Pune, India 

Where’s the favorite place you have traveled to, lived in, or would like to visit?

Grown up in Saudi Arabia & Pune, love European culture in general. (Career in French)

What are some of your passions?

Cultures, Languages, technology, marketing, helping people, food, art

What does an average day look like for you?

Lots of sales and marketing, mentoring colleagues, training translators and these days,  cooking & webinars!

What are some things you do for self-care?

Play substitute-therapist to friends, dancing and lot of writing! (Puppy videos are a huge stress buster, too.)

What are five words to describe you?

Creative, emotional, streetsmart, tech-savvy & people-person

What are your hobbies?

Getting to know new people, traveling, exploring cultures of the world, discussing psychology & reading science-fiction

What is your profession or what career would you like to be in?

Language & localization industry

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Dance choreographer / interior designer

What is your favorite food?

Anything southeast Asian: Chinese and Thai are favourites!

What is your proudest achievement?

Being financially independent and moving out of my parent’s place

What is a hidden talent that you possess?

Creative writing