Digital advocacy on female genital cutting in the time of COVID-19
By Miranda Dobson “For many parents in the Bohra community who are thinking about having their daughters undergo female genital cutting, the delay that COVID-19 has caused is likely not a big deal, as it can happen any time from age 7. There is no time limit.” Aarefa Johari is a co-founder of transnational organisation […]
Voices Series: How listening to survivor’s stories made me a better advocate
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 Karen Kwok, […]
Reflections on the Voices alumni COVID-19 storytelling workshop
By Lara Kingstone Sahiyo held a StoryCenter-led COVID-19 storytelling session for Voices to End FMG/C alumni in May. The session was created to continue building community online and offer a space for women to share their stories during the pandemic. This workshop was designed to be an informal and relaxed space for those affected by female […]
Sahiyo Intern Spotlight: Kendra Davis
Kendra is a master’s student at Brandeis University studying global health. Prior to attending Brandeis, she was a community health volunteer for three years in Togo, West Africa. Kendra is passionate about educating communities on reproductive health issues. She is excited to contribute her experience, as well as grow with the Sahiyo team. 1) When […]
How I learned female genital mutilation is happening in India
By Thirupurasundari Sevvel Country of Residence: India How do I start? How do I explain my first realization that there is a practice called female genital mutilation? It was a typical day. During my master’s program in France, I was working with a couple of my friends talking about so many different random things. The […]
Job Opening! Social Media Consultant for a new Sahiyo project in India
Social Media Consultant position for an exciting new project on Female Genital Cutting in India Are you a social media person with a passion for women’s and human rights? Do you have the skills to design social media campaigns? If yes, then you could be working for an exciting new tech-based project in the movement […]
We are listening: Sahiyo’s statement on protests against police brutality
We at Sahiyo wanted to purposefully create space to address the continued protests against police brutality in the United States and globally, and explicitly state that we stand in solidarity with the protesters fighting for black lives. Many are coming forward to condemn the treatment of people of color. But we need to be clear […]
Voices Series: A Reflection on a nine-month journey
By Su Sun When I was contacted by Mariya in the beginning of 2019 to join the Voices to End FGM/C workshop, I’d just found out I was pregnant. Previous experiences of obstetric trauma roamed around my head and it seemed to me that this project could be an opportunity to reunify two vital experiences […]
Forced Clitoridectomies on Athletes
By Masuma Kothari (Several female athletes have been coerced to undergo partial clitoridectomies to participate in competitive sports. Read about female genital cutting (FGC) in sports here.) “Let me try to feel this, as if I was you. As a child I am embellished a rosy world of toyswhich could draw up to any passerby […]
Sahiyo hosts third annual Activist Retreat
Sahiyo held its third annual Activist Retreat in the United States via Zoom from April 10-12. The aim of the retreat was to continue to work toward building a network of U.S.-based Bohra activists against female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) by strengthening relationships with one another, sharing best practices, and providing tools for activists to utilize […]