Sahiyo’s Second Annual Silent Auction & Comedy Show Reflection
Thank you to everyone who participated in Sahiyo’s 2nd annual Women’s Day Celebration & Silent Auction! We are truly grateful for the show of support. With the help of our incredible donors and supporters, we raised over $13K. Our five-day celebration of women’s voices began on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, by opening our virtual auction […]
Reflecting on Sahiyo’s Voices Healing Circle
On December 18th, Sahiyo hosted a Voices Healing Circle where participants from across workshop cohorts came together to reconnect and meet new members of the Voices network. These sessions are part of Sahiyo’s ongoing support events for Voices alumni, serving to create a space for sharing experiences, fostering camaraderie, navigating the challenges, and celebrating the […]
My time at the 2023 Peer-to-Peer National ARP Convening
In October 2023, Sahiyo’s Community Engagement Coordinator Samman Masud as well as long-time Sahiyo volunteer and Activists Retreat planning committee member Umme Kulsoom Arif attended the 2023 Peer-to-Peer National American Rescue Plan (ARP) Convening in Washington D.C. The three-day convention welcomed representatives from over 40 non-profit organizations throughout the U.S. to join other grantees of […]
Jo Keogh reflects on the 2023 Women Deliver Conference
The Women Deliver 2023 Conference (WD 2023) took place in-person, as well as virtually, from 17-20 July 2023, in Kigali, Rwanda. The conference convened around 6,000 people in Kigali, and over 200,000 people online. Amongst those attending the conference was Jo Keogh, Sahiyo U.S. Advisory Board member as well as a founding member of the […]
Do I belong? Reflecting on the Activists Retreat
By Sakina Sharp Sahiyo’s annual Activists Retreat is a great way for both women and men connected to the Bohra community to discuss the issue of khatna, or female genital cutting (FGC). This is my third year attending the event, and I appreciate that this Retreat offers a safe space to have conversations about khatna. […]
Reflecting on There’s an App For That?: Technological Innovation and Change Towards Ending Female Genital Cutting event
By Derrick Simiyu During this past March 8th, International Women’s Day, I was extremely excited to attend There’s an App For That? Technological Innovation and Change Towards Ending Female Genital Cutting, hosted by the Global Platform for Action to End FGM/C as a parallel event during the United Nations’ NGOCSW67. The webinar explored how technology, […]
My thoughts on the Washington Senate Bill to end FGM/C
By FA When I was a teenager, my family discouraged me from speaking out against khatna, or female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), for fear of repercussions from our community. I wanted to use my voice, but I did not want to disappoint my parents or bring shame to my family. As I followed the Detroit FGM […]
Activists Retreat Reflection: What community means to me
By Zehra Patwa My fifth experience at the Sahiyo Bohra Activists Retreat in June 2022 was, once again, eye opening, supportive, and so much fun; in particular, because I met a whole new set of North American Bohras I didn’t know before, as well as a couple of Bohras from Europe! This year, all participants […]
Reflecting on A Quiet Violence: Navigating Female Genital Cutting as an LGBTQ+ Survivor
By Trisha Kini On June 23rd, Sahiyo hosted their webinar A Quiet Violence: Navigating Female Genital Cutting as an LGBTQ+ Survivor in honor of LGBTQ+ pride month. The event was moderated by Sahiyo U.S. Advisory Board chair, internal medicine physician, and chief medical editor of EverydayHealth.com Dr. Arefa Cassoobhoy. Panelists included poet, playwright, filmmaker, and […]
Reflection on Sahiyo webinar: Understanding Social Norms to end Female Genital Cutting
By Trisha Kini Sahiyo hosted the webinar Understanding Social Norms to End Female Genital Cutting on July 1st. The event was moderated by Sahiyo co-founder, and winner of the Chameli Devi Jain Award Aarefa Johari, and attended by distinguished guest speakers Molly Melching and Maryan Abdikadir. Maryan is a survivor and activist of female genital […]