Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Belong in the Movement to End FGC
By Anonymous I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Though for much of my life, “victim” felt like the most honest word. Those experiences have shaped my relationships, both to others and with myself, so that forging an identity outside of that trauma is an impossibility. What happened to me exists in public court […]
Notre Webinaire À Venir: Comprendre les normes sociales pour mettre fin aux mutilations génitales féminines
À propos du webinaire Même si les mutilations génitales féminines (MGF) sont condamnées par de nombreux traités et conventions à l’échelle internationnale, elles continuent d’être pratiquées conformément aux normes sociales. Les normes sociales ont une influence puissante sur les communautés et orientent les comportements, y compris les rôles, les attitudes et les valeurs de genre, […]
Upcoming webinar: Understanding Social Norms to End Female Genital Cutting
About the Webinar Even though Female Genital Cutting (FGC) is condemned by many international treaties and conventions, it continues to be performed in accordance with social norms. Social norms have a powerful influence over communities and guide behaviour, including gender roles, attitudes, and values, which contribute to FGC. On July 1st, our webinar will explore […]
Reflections on research: Digital Storytelling as a narrative intervention for survivors of FGM/C
Where, and how, does agency (or one’s capacity to act) manifest itself for survivors of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C)? How can survivors heal and find community with each other? These were two of the questions I pursued through a research project on the effect of digital storytelling on survivors of FGM/C, based on the long-running Voices to […]
Sahiyo volunteer spotlight: Development intern Avery Boudreau
Avery is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in statistics and economics. She is passionate about women’s and animals’ rights, international education, and environmental sustainability, and hopes to utilize her research skills to analyze data and diction to create change and conversations in these areas. She is […]
Reflecting on the 5th Annual Activist Retreat for members of the Bohra Community
By Zehra Patwa From June 3rd to June 5th, we hosted our 5th Annual Sahiyo Bohra Anti-FGC Activist Retreat, which occurred virtually. Once again, we had new faces and alumni join us for the retreat with a diverse mix of experiences, personalities and genders, which made for some very interesting conversations. This was our first retreat […]
Sahiyo U.S. joins South Asian SOAR as member organization
Sahiyo U.S. is grateful to be welcomed as one of the newest member organizations of South Asian SOAR, a U.S.-based coalition working to end gender-based violence (GBV) in the South Asian diaspora. SOAR is a national collective of survivors, 30+ organizations, and allies who are passionate about changing the high prevalence of GBV among South […]
Webinar reflection: Centring Community in FGM/C Behaviour Change Theory
By Ellen Ince On May 12th, I attended the webinar, Centring Community in FGM/C Behaviour Change Theory. This webinar was presented by Dr. Bettina Shell-Duncan, a Professor of Anthropology at University of Washington, conducts mixed method bio-cultural research on maternal and child health in sub-Saharan Africa; much of her research focuses on the study of […]
You are not alone
By Maryan Abdikadir Why did you want to attend the workshop and share your story? I love storytelling and I come from a long line of storytellers and poets. I believe stories have a way of capturing the minds, leaving lasting impressions and/or education. Being a survivor of Female Genital Mutilation and an activist/educator, I know […]
Releasing my unspoken words
By Anam I like to hear stories because they help me understand people. Sometimes, they help me understand myself. So, when I heard storytellers talk about their experience with female genital mutilaiton (FGM), I thought about my own. The Voices to End FGM/C digital Sstorytelling workshop helped me put into words a story I have […]