Bhaiyo: Men Against FGC
By Nishikant Mendhapurkar, Bhaiyo Volunteer I first came across the issue of female genital cutting (FGM/C) during a research project I was involved with at university, though I had also heard about it from friends several years ago. Over time, my role evolved from a researcher to an ally. I became increasingly involved in advocacy […]
Beyond Advocacy: How the Sahiyo Retreat Deepened My Healing
By Lubaina Plumber I still remember the first time I attended a Sahiyo retreat. I walked into the retreat feeling uncertain, not quite knowing what to expect.But I left with a deep sense of connection—like I had just found a room full of people who spoke a language I had been struggling to translate for […]
Engaging Across Gendered Walls: Talking to Men about FGC
By Zahara Kagalwalla Female Genital Cutting (FGC) has long been confined to spaces occupied by women. It is spoken about in hushed tones, passed down as a “woman’s thing,” a ritual overseen and upheld by grandmothers, mothers, aunts, and elderly women in the community. Men, for the most part, remain absent—silent onlookers, if they are looking […]