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 (FGM/C). Supported by the Wallace Global Fund and the Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. Department of Justice, the guide is designed to help everybody facilitate impactful screenings of digital stories by survivors, activists, and advocates. These stories are not just narratives; they are powerful testimonies of resilience, courage, and the human spirit’s ability to overcome. Why This Guide Matters FGM/C is a social norm justified by a variety of reasons, yet it carries significant implications for women’s health, rights, and well-being. The Voices to End FGM/C Screening Guide stands as a crucial step forward in our collective efforts to raise awareness, foster understanding, and drive change. The guide offers a wealth of tools and templates to assist in organizing screenings of Voices to End FGM/C videos, whether within organizations, schools, or informal gatherings. It aims to create a space for learning, reflection, and action, encouraging participants to move from awareness to advocacy. By hosting a screening, you contribute to a larger dialogue about human rights, gender equality, and the urgent need to end FGM/C. What You’ll Find Inside The guide serves as a comprehensive toolkit for anyone committed to ending FGM/C, providing the following information: Detailed screening guidelines Discussion prompts Event planning tools Resources for organizing engaging and informative screenings A selection of digital stories from our Voices project We encourage you to visit our Voices to End FGM/C website and browse through the diverse narratives from around the globe. Join the Movement By exploring the Voices to End FGM/C Screening Guide, you’re taking a significant step towards raising awareness and creating opportunities for dialogue. We hope this guide becomes more than just a resource; we want this guide to serve as a call to action for everyone who believes in the power of storytelling to inspire change. We invite you to join us in this vital movement. For any questions or to learn more about our Voices program, please reach out to us ataries@sahiyo.org. Related: Voices to End FGM/C 2023 Cohort Video Screening
Sahiyo staff spotlight: Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator Aries Nuño
When and how did you first get involved with Sahiyo? My engagement with Sahiyo began through my interest in addressing gender-based violence, specifically focusing on FGM/C, within the public health sphere. My initial involvement as a volunteer was driven by the opportunity to apply my public health knowledge to Sahiyo’s efforts. Over time, my increasing understanding of FGM/C’s complexities and my desire for a more direct role in the organization’s initiatives led me to the Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator position. This role has allowed me to use my skills more effectively, contributing to the development and execution of Sahiyo’s mission. What does your work with Sahiyo involve? As the T&TA Coordinator, while my role involves creating training programs, I prioritize fostering relationships and building trust with community stakeholders to ensure our efforts are truly collaborative and responsive. Some of our training initiatives are structured to engage with healthcare professionals, gender-based violence (GBV) providers, and the local community each bringing unique challenges and perspectives to the table. Part of my work is also rooted in collaborating with a variety of partners, including NGOs, government entities, and directly with survivors, to enhance FGM/C prevention and raise awareness effectively. Additionally, I am involved with creating educational materials that serve both individuals and organizations, to provide comprehensive knowledge and practical tools, fostering an inclusive, culturally sensitive, and trauma-informed approach to addressing FGM/C. Finally, one key program I support is Sahiyo’s Voices to End FGM/C initiative (I participated in the mort recent Voices Conhort in 2023). This program brings together survivors, activists, and advocates from across the globe by bringing them together to share and heal from FGM/C, connect and grow as leaders, and create short videos sharing their experience with the practice. How has your involvement with Sahiyo impacted your life? Working with Sahiyo has deepened my understanding of FGM/C as a complex issue that requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach to address effectively. Moving into a professional capacity within the organization has expanded my view of the challenges and possibilities in this field. It has underscored the importance of education, advocacy, and partnership in driving change. The resilience of survivors and the commitment of advocates continue to inspire my work. My hope is for Sahiyo’s programs to be recognized as effective and empathetic resources in the global effort to end FGM/C. What words of wisdom would you like to share with others who may be interested in supporting Sahiyo and the movement against FGC? Respecting culture and tradition is crucial when addressing the practice of FGM/C. It is important to understand that FGM/C is often perpetuated by cultural and societal attitudes and is deeply rooted in the beliefs and traditions of communities that practice it. As an outsider to the practice, a judgmental approach can alienate the very communities we hope to engage. It is essential to engage with communities in a respectful and culturally sensitive manner in order to work collaboratively and to create solutions that are sustainable and in line with their values and beliefs. By doing so, we can help to create lasting change and promote gender equality while respecting cultural diversity.
Voices to End FGM/C 2023 Cohort Video Screening
On Wednesday, March 27th at 10 AM PT/1 PM ET, Sahiyo will host a screening of the newest Voices to End FGM/C videos, which were developed through Sahiyo, Asian Women’s Shelter, and Silence Speaks, with survivors of and advocates against female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). In addition to viewing these nine poignant stories, attendees will get the chance to hear from some of the storytellers themselves about their work and journey. “I hope that my story will be a clarion call for folks to help me bring to light the need for medical care for hundreds of thousands of women who need help locally, nationally, and globally.” Doris Mukangu, Voices ‘23 Workshop Participant Date: March 27th Time: 10 AM PT/1 PM ET Registration link: https://bit.ly/Voices23Screening The Voices to End FGM/C Program is a digital storytelling project created by Silence Speaks and Sahiyo that aims to mobilize a critical mass of survivors and activists from across the globe. Voices to END FGM/C brings people together to share and heal from their experiences of FGM/C, to connect and grow as leaders in their own communities, and to create short videos calling for an end to this harmful practice. If you are interested in hosting a screening ofVoices to End FGM/C videos with your own organization, with classmates, or with coworkers, we are excited to announce the release of our Voices to End FGM/C Screening Guide. This is an in-depth resource with discussion questions, FAQs about FGM/C, and event planning templates. For any questions, related to this guide or our Voices program, please email aries@sahiyo.org
Apply for our Voices to End FGM/C 2024 Hybrid Digital Storytelling Workshop!
We are planning our second hybrid-format Voices to End FGM/C Digital Storytelling Workshop! This workshop offers a global platform for FGM/C survivors and community members affected by it to share their stories. When: Online Workshop Dates: May 28 and June 4, 4-6 pm PT / 7-9 pm ET In-person Workshop Dates: June 22-23 in Washington, D.C. 9 am – 5 pm ET (travel days: June 21 and 24, 2024) Who: Open to individuals in the U.S. impacted by FGM/C as well as allies passionate about raising awareness and ending the practice. What: Learn to craft impactful videos using techniques and mediums like voice-overs, images, and short clips guided by facilitators from Sahiyo, SilenceSpeaks, and Asian Women’s Shelter. Post-Workshop: Sahiyo will assist participants in sharing their videos publicly as part of our advocacy efforts to raise awareness. Apply by April 15, 2024 to be part of the ninth Voices to End FGM/C cohort!For inquiries, contact Aries at aries@sahiyo.org. You can also visit our website to learn more about the project and watch past workshop videos!
Equality Now releases the trailer of Asia’s first fiction film on FGM/C, directed by Sahiyo co-founder, Insia Dariwala
On International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, Equality Now — an NGO that advocates for the rights and protection of women and girls around the world — released the trailer for “The Beginning.” Written and directed by Sahiyo’s co-founder Insia Dariwala, it’s the Asian continent’s first ever fiction film on Female Genital Mutilation/ Cutting (FGM/C). Inspired by real survivors who underwent FGM/C as little girls, the film highlights the trauma many struggled with, long after the cut. Equality Now’s Global Leader, Divya Srinivasan, who worked with Insia on producing the film said, “We believe that this thought-provoking piece evocatively demonstrates the struggles faced by a woman holding the dual experiences of being a survivor herself, while also being a mother who is expected to play a major role in continuing the practice with future generations.” She also writes, “Since survivors of FGM/C in India broke the silence about this practice over seven years ago, there have been great strides towards prevention and eradication of FGM/C. The issue of FGM/C in India has been recognised in the Supreme Court and at international bodies; and there is greater awareness on the patriarchal nature and harmful effects of the practice within practicing communities, particularly amongst the younger generation. However, we have a long way to go in the struggle to end FGM/C and we need more public conversations to change hearts and minds of all stakeholders, and prevention and response initiatives to ensure that we can move towards the goal of eradication.In partnership with Insia and Sahiyo, we hope that we can use this film to raise awareness on FGM/C in the country, particularly with young people; and to highlight FGM/C as a priority human rights issue that needs to be addressed by a range of stakeholders including the international community, medical associations, and CSOs working on ending gender-based violence in India.”