Do I belong? Reflecting on the Activists Retreat
By Sakina Sharp Sahiyo’s annual Activists Retreat is a great way for both women and men connected to the Bohra community to discuss the issue of khatna, or female genital cutting (FGC). This is my third year attending the event, and I appreciate that this Retreat offers a safe space to have conversations about khatna. […]
More Than A Survivor: Celebrating Queer Joy
At Sahiyo, we believe in creating a space where all voices are heard and celebrated. We acknowledge the unique experiences of Queer survivors within the FGC community and aim to provide support, inclusivity, and joy! In celebration of Pride Month, we asked members of our community what joy looks like to them: Umme Kulsoom Arif “My […]
Dear Maasi: Why it is that women who have gone through FGM/C continue to do it to their young ones?
Dear Maasi is a column about everything you wanted to know about sex and relationships but were afraid to ask! It’s a partnership between Sahiyo and WeSpeakOut, and is for all of us who have questions about khatna (female genital mutilation/cutting or FGM/C) and how it impacts our bodies, minds, sexualities, and relationships. We welcome you […]
Building a NASW approved trainings for Social Workers
On May 30th, RTI International hosted a training for social workers on female genital cutting (FGC). Recognizing that many first responders and clinical providers in the U.S. are not adequately equipped to address FGC in their practice, this training provided continuing education units for licensed social workers. The training provided an introductory foundation for understanding […]
Volunteer Spotlight: Events & Programs Intern Derrick Simiyu
Derrick Simiyu is a programs, monitoring and evaluation professional and passionate about upholding women’s rights and gender equality which drove him to volunteering in a community based organisation that supports girls in areas of Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM). What was your experience of learning about female genital cutting (FGC) […]
Six Tips for Stress Reduction: Exercising Your Vagus Nerve to Heal Pelvic Pain
Originally written by Serenity Serafini, PT, DPT May is Pelvic Pain Awareness Month. Pelvic pain has been reported by some individuals after undergoing the harmful practice of female genital cutting (FGC). This can include pain with vaginal intercourse, termed dyspareunia, which is reported in almost 24.9% of FGC survivors Chronic pelvic pain after FGC has […]
Applications open to join the 2023 Voices to End FGM/C hybrid digital storytelling workshop cohort!
Sahiyo U.S., StoryCenter, and Asian Women’s Shelter would like to announce that recruitment is open for our 2023 Voices to End FGM/C hybrid digital storytelling workshop. Since 2015, Sahiyo has provided various storytelling platforms for survivors and community members around the world to share their experiences of female genital cutting (FGC); in particular, Voices to […]
Mindful Movement for Pelvic Pain
By Body Harmony Physical Therapy May is Pelvic Pain Awareness Month. Pelvic pain has been reported by some individuals after undergoing the harmful practice of female genital cutting (FGC). This can include pain with vaginal intercourse, termed dyspareunia, which is reported in almost 24.9% of FGC survivors. Chronic pelvic pain after FGC has also been […]
Reflecting on Investing in Girls and Women: Unleashing the Power of Philanthropy to End FGM/C
By Derrick Simiyu After attending the webinar Investing in Girls and Women: Unleashing the Power of Philanthropy to End FGM/C, I learned about challenges related to funding programs for those affected by FGC; in particular, the fact that little funding is allocated to FGC because it is not prioritized as an urgent problem. Speakers introduced […]
Training the Prince George’s County Health Department on FGC
On April 28th, Karen McDonnell, Associate Professor at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health partnered with Sahiyo Cofounder Mariya Taher to provide a training for nearly 70 health care providers at the Prince George County Health Department on female genital cutting (FGC) and the role of health care professionals in prevention and […]