Intern Spotlight: Katie Bai
Every month, Sahiyo likes to highlight the incredible work of our staff members, fellows, and interns. Today, we’re spotlighting Sahiyo’s current Policy Intern, Katie Bai. Katie is a student at the University of Missouri and will attend Texas A&M University School of Law this fall. She aspires to pursue a career in immigration, human rights, or civil rights law. How did you hear about Sahiyo and what made you want to get involved? I heard about Sahiyo through an internship position post online. I’d not heard of the organization but the position looked fascinating and seemed to align with work I wanted to do after I graduated. When I went to the website and learned about the prevalence of FGM/C in the United States, I was shocked. That’s when I knew I wanted to be a part of the solution. Did you know about FGC before joining Sahiyo? If yes, where did you hear about it? If not, what surprised you about FGC? I didn’t know anything about FGM/C before I joined Sahiyo. As I was in the interviewing process, I decided to research the topic more and write a paper about FGM/C for a human rights class I was taking. The justifications for the practice surprised me, but the prevalence of the practice in the United States shocked me. I had no idea that this practice was occurring at home. Which internship are you a part of at Sahiyo and what have you worked on so far? I am a Policy Intern! I have worked on outreach, social media posts, and a high school presentation for the Connecticut Coalition to End FGM/C. In my short time at Sahiyo, I’ve also edited testimony for a committee hearing, written blogs about the history of FGM/C in states without FGM/C bans, and facilitated meetings between The DMV Area Coalition to End FGM/C and potential new members. What’s something you hope to do/work on while interning at Sahiyo? I’d like to plan a webinar for the DMV Area Coalition to End FGM/C to help spread the word about this new organization I’ve become invested in. Ideally, I hope to witness Bill 1438 (a bill that solely criminalizes the practice of FGM/C, which is projected to become law in May) include the Connecticut Coalition’s original language to ensure that survivors can pursue civil remedies and educational resources are integrated into communities to prevent the harmful practice. If that doesn’t happen, I would love to work on drafting a new bill that includes these provisions. As you begin your internship, are there ways in which Sahiyo has already impacted your life? Sahiyo has helped me recognize the tireless work from nonprofits, legislators, activists, volunteers, and community members that legislative change requires. When speaking with anyone involved in our organization, it’s evident that this work is an uphill battle — bill language gets rewritten, funds get revoked, and attitudes about violence towards girls and women gets deprioritized under huge legislative changes. This experience has taught me that no one can end such monumental tasks alone, but when people come together to address an issue, there is no end to what can be accomplished. What words of wisdom would you like to share with others who may be interested in supporting Sahiyo and the movement against FGC? To others looking to get involved in Sahiyo, I will relay something my mom used to tell me: “above all, be the heroine in your life, not the victim.” The bravery and tenacity of Sahiyo’s survivor-informed leadership cannot be understated, and to anyone thinking about getting involved, don’t hesitate. There are nearly half a million girls at risk of this procedure and we cannot protect them without the support of one another.
Intern Spotlight: Fundraising and Auction Intern Elaina Baliner
Sahiyo’s Fundraising and Auction Intern Elaina Baliner is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University where she earned a Bachelors of Science in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences with a minor in Biology. A passionate global health equity advocate, Elaina actively seeks to maximize positive impact and close health equity gaps. Currently living in France for her gap year, Elaina is working to become fluent in French before pursuing a masters degree in Global Health Economics with the hopes of decentralizing global health funding to enhance resource accessibility for implementing organizations. In her free time, Elaina enjoys teaching yoga and being in nature. Elaina is thrilled to join an organization that empowers all people and to be a part of the solution to end FGC. When and how did you first get involved with Sahiyo? I began working with Sahiyo in July after coming across their internship posting on LinkedIn. At the time, I was actively searching for an opportunity to work in nonprofit funding to build my skills before pursuing a master’s in global health economics. Before discovering Sahiyo, I was aware of the practice of female genital cutting (FGC) in parts of Africa and Asia, but I had no idea it was still occurring within communities in the United States. This realization really struck me, and Sahiyo’s mission to end FGC resonated deeply with me. As someone dedicated to advancing global health equity—particularly in areas related to gender-based violence (GBV)—I felt a natural alignment with Sahiyo’s work. As a woman myself, I am also deeply passionate about ensuring that women’s rights and voices are heard. I vividly remember being genuinely excited for my interview, eager to learn more about Sahiyo’s initiatives and hopeful for the opportunity to contribute to an organization working to end such a significant human rights violation. What does your work with Sahiyo involve? As a Fundraising and Auction Intern, my work primarily focuses on supporting the funding efforts for Sahiyo’s programs. This includes researching potential funding opportunities, writing grant proposals, and assisting with donor relations and fundraising events, such as our end-of-year Season of Giving campaign. I also contribute to donor engagement strategies and create graphic designs to help enhance our individual giving campaigns. Additionally, I’ve contributed toward building and soliciting packages for our annual Celebrate Her: Silent Auction and Comedy Show, working to secure sponsors and make the event a continued success. How has your involvement with Sahiyo impacted your life? My involvement with Sahiyo has profoundly impacted me, opening my eyes to the sheer number of women worldwide who are survivors of female genital cutting—regardless of what country they live in. It has taught me the power of storytelling. I’ve had the distinct honor of hearing some survivors’ stories firsthand, witnessing their bravery and resilience. This experience has shown me just how essential storytelling is in public engagement and the value of empowering individuals to be effective storytellers, specially when garnering support for addressing widespread, systemic issues. In just two months, I have learned a great deal about movement building, the importance of a strong network, and the power of individual donor support. With Sahiyo, I’ve also gained practical skills, such as streamlining the grant application process and effectively engaging with businesses for our upcoming silent auction. What stays with me the most is my new awareness of how many women and girls endure this practice daily—and how little training and understanding medical providers have about FGC. As I look to pursue a career in global health, this knowledge will undoubtedly shape my priorities, especially when advocating for funding and resources. What words of wisdom would you like to share with others who may be interested in supporting Sahiyo and the movement against FGC? Sahiyo makes it easy for anyone to get involved, and there are so many ways to support if you’re interested. If you don’t have the financial means to donate or the time to commit as a full volunteer or intern, you can still engage by attending one of our virtual educational events—even spending just an hour with us can leave a lasting impact. Organizations like Sahiyo work tirelessly to address the issue of female genital cutting from every possible angle. Everybody here is committed to improving support for survivors, pushing for policy change, engaging more people to raise their voices against FGC, and ultimately ending this practice. But we can’t do it alone—we need the support of our community. If you’re passionate about ending FGC, then focus your efforts on supporting an organization like Sahiyo that is driving real, impactful change. Whether it’s spreading awareness, attending events, or contributing in any way you can, your support is crucial for us to continue this important work. Related links: How to donate to Sahiyo U.S. Here’s how you can volunteer with Sahiyo U.S.