Reflecting on the Activist Retreat
By Arefa Cassoobhoy Why did you want to attend the retreat? I had attended a virtual retreat during Covid and I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed meeting other people virtually, so that helped me feel comfortable that I would do well in an in-person group. Going to the virtual retreat also made me […]
Sahiyo staff spotlight: Editorial Coordinator Sheena Vasani
Sheena Vasani joined Sahiyo as its Editorial Coordinator in January 2024. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience working for major media outlets, startups, and charities. A strong believer in the power of the written word to enact social change and heal, she has gone viral multiple times for her work on […]
Reflections after sharing my story during the Psychosocial Impacts of FGM/C Webinar
Farrah Dalal was one of the speakers who participated in our “Quiet Activism and the Psychosocial Impacts of Female Genital Cutting” webinar. Watch a recording of the event here. By Farrah Dalal Sharing my story and participating in events to uplift the cause of ending FGM/C always leaves me with feelings of physical heaviness afterwards. Normally, […]
Rally, Revel, Repeat : A Changemakers Retreat!
By Lubaina Plumber Remember that pivotal moment when a cause became intensely personal? That’s what happened to me when I discovered the human rights violation of female genital cutting (FGC) a few years ago. It triggered buried memories of my own experience as an eight-year-old survivor. I finally attended the transformative Sahiyo Activists Retreat in […]
Key takeaways from the “From Rhetoric to Reality: Closing the Funding Gap to End FGM/C” event
By Sheena Vasani and Mariya Taher It’s hard to believe, but in monetary terms, all it could take to avert one case of FGM/C is $95 – roughly the cost many of us pay for a year or so of Netflix. Despite that fact, one of the reasons female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is on the rise worldwide […]
Our Fight to End FGM in The Gambia: Who is Listening?
By: Jaha Dukureh, a Gambian anti-female genital mutilation campaigner and the founder and executive director of Safe Hands for Girls. Jaha was named TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People for 2016 and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018. After I spent years campaigning to outlaw female circumcision, finally my country started to listen. In 2015, The Gambia […]
Empowering Voices: The Launch of the Voices to End FGM/C Screening Guide
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Voices to End FGM/C Screening Guide, an educational resource developed by Sahiyo, Silence Speaks, and the Asian Women’s Shelter. This guide marks a significant step forward in our collective efforts to amplify the voices of survivors, educate people, and mobilize communities to support ending female genital mutilation/cutting […]
Pathways to Progress: Community Engagement in Ending Female Genital Cutting
Date: March 18, 2024 Time: 9AM-10:30AM Pacific/ 12PM-1:30PM Eastern Register here: https://bit.ly/RTIxSahiyo. On March 18, Sahiyo and other FGM/C advocates will discuss the pivotal role community engagement plays in raising awareness of FGM/C and ultimately ending the practice. Led by Sahiyo’s U.S. Executive Director Mariya Taher, panelists will share effective ways to engage with FGM/C […]
Sahiyo to release nine new Voices to End FGM/C digital stories
“Everything I learned from the workshop was gold to me. I enjoyed all the sessions and the new skills I acquired in creating a digital story (…) about a scar. A scar that my primary duty bearers believed was necessary to have in order to be labeled as the “purified” girl, for marriage, as opposed […]
2024 begins with team transitions at Sahiyo
As we settle into 2024, the Sahiyo family is excited to welcome Sheena Vasani as our new Editorial Coordinator. Sheena, a strong believer in the power of the written world to enact social change and heal, has gone viral multiple times for her work on South Asian women’s rights and mental health issues. Rachel Wine, […]