Sahiyo Activist Retreats
India Activist Retreat – 2019 The first annual Sahiyo Activists’ Retreats in the US and in India were organized in 2018 for advocates working to end Female Genital Cutting (FGC). The primary aim of these retreats in each country is to bring together ‘activists’ speaking out against FGC — people […]
Unspoken
By Naima Dido I wish I could finally say to you the words stuck in my throat, Behind my teeth and scattered on my tongue, With you, I live on eggshells, I don’t know how to tell you that I noticed that your days were filled with half-veiled insults, I was praised serving tea the […]
Sri Lanka’s first survey on FGM/C: Survivors need space to talk and access to medical care
By Jumana S. “It should not be up to the elders to stamp the body of a girl child at the age of seven, (a process that is irreversible irrespective of the extent of damage), and decide what her religious convictions should be.” – Jamila, Dawoodi Bohra survivor of FGC, Colombo This fundamental right that […]
Voices Series: Naima Dido
My mother, a woman who has never held a pencil in her life, had a dream of educating me. And so, I became the first woman in my family to learn the power of literacy. Beyond the abilities to read and write for myself, my educational opportunities have empowered me to take control over my […]
Sahiyo Volunteer Spotlight: Zahra Qaiyumi
Zahra Qaiyumi completed her undergraduate education at The University of Maryland, studying Physiology, Neurobiology, and Spanish. Afterward, she pursued a Master’s degree in Physiology at Georgetown University. She then moved to the Bay Area and participated in neurobehavioral research while working with adolescents diagnosed with ADHD at the University of California San Francisco’s Neuroscape Center. […]
Voices Series: Why I still speak up about FGM/C
This blog is part of a series of reflective essays by participants of the Voices to End FGM/C workshops run by Sahiyo and StoryCenter. Through residential and online workshops on digital storytelling, Voices to End FGM/C enables those who have been affected by female genital mutilation/cutting to tell their stories through their own perspectives, in their own words. By Zenab Banu […]
Voices Series: Why we must break the silence of FGM/C
This blog is part of a series of reflective essays by participants of the Voices to End FGM/C workshops run by Sahiyo and StoryCenter. Through residential and online workshops on digital storytelling, Voices to End FGM/C enables those who have been affected by female genital mutilation/cutting to tell their stories through their own perspectives, in their own words. By Anonymous I’ve […]
Supporting each other through COVID-19 and continuing our efforts to end female genital cutting
Dear Sahiyo community, We’re writing to let you know that we are so grateful to have you be part of the Sahiyo community, and even though we are living in unprecedented times with the COVID-19 pandemic and our everyday lives look different right now, we’re committed to helping you stay connected to us and our […]
Voices Series: How I learned to tell my FGM/C story
This blog is part of a series of reflective essays by participants of the Voices to End FGM/C workshops run by Sahiyo and StoryCenter. Through residential and online workshops on digital storytelling, Voices to End FGM/C enables those who have been affected by female genital mutilation/cutting to tell their stories through their own perspectives, in their own words. By Saza […]
Voices Series: Why I believe in the power of storytelling
This blog is part of a series of reflective essays by participants of the Voices to End FGM/C workshops run by Sahiyo and StoryCenter. Through residential and online workshops on digital storytelling, Voices to End FGM/C enables those who have been affected by female genital mutilation/cutting to tell their stories through their own perspectives, in their own words. By Shabana Feroze […]