Sahiyo partners with GirlUp ESCP for virtual event
On February 2nd, Sahiyo partnered with GirlUp ESCP for their inaugural event to present an introductory overview of the issues surrounding female genital cutting (FGC), and educate their community on what they can do in their individual lives to help empower communities to abandon FGC. ESCP is an internationally recognized university located across Europe whose main focus is on business education. This branch of GirlUp is made up of student leaders and activities from the ESCP school who are passionate about women’s rights and empowering girls. [youtube url=”https://youtu.be/UxEWKCpa5H0″] This educational and informational event began with a PowerPoint presentation and a screening of a select few of the Voices to End FGM/C videos. These videos helped to give context and personal connection to the often overwhelming statistics about FGC. They also helped to highlight some of the most pressing issues facing survivors, such as medical stigma, community ostracization, and the prejudices coming from non-survivors and people who do not come from practicing communities. These videos helped us to demonstrate the global scope of FGC and the diversity of experiences of survivors. The event also gave participants information and tools to help them in their advocacy, including linking them to local organizations focusing on this issue in their area. The participants in this training left with a better, more comprehensive understanding of the issue and with the tools to immediately involve themselves in activism around FGC. At the end of our presentation, our guests had the opportunity to have their questions answered by Sahiyo co-founder Mariya Taher. Trainings like this one are incredibly important as they help to dispel the negative stereotypes that surround FGC and help all people become more enlightened and conscious activists. When done well, education can be a life-changing tool not only to address negative stereotypes, but to empower all communities to end FGC and gender-based violence. Presentations like these are just the start of a lifelong journey to understand how and why FGC happens, and what we all can do about it. If you are interested in hosting a presentation such as this one at your institution, please email our team: info@sahiyo.com.
Community Outreach
Community Outreach and Education Community outreach and education are essential in ending harmful practices like female genital cutting (FGC). Since our founding, Sahiyo has spoken on various platforms, including conferences on women’s rights, gender, and religion, college guest lectures, and local community events. We engage in public presentations, webinars, and media outreach to raise awareness and foster dialogue on FGC prevention and impact. If you would like to invite Sahiyo to speak at an event, or for a workshop or discussion, fill out the Community Presentation Request form and email us at info@sahiyo.org. REQUEST PRESENTATION Events Calendar VIEW PROGRAM OVERVIEW What We Offer 1 Female Genital Cutting (FGC) 101: This presentation provides a foundational understanding of FGC in the United States and globally. Participants will learn about the various forms of FGC, its profound impacts, cultural justifications for its continuation, and the origins of the movement against FGC. 2 Framing FGC: This presentation delves into the complexities of framing FGC in public discourse. It addresses how to speak about FGC sensitively and accurately, considering cultural contexts and the perspectives of survivors. Learn effective communication strategies to foster understanding and support for the movement against FGC. 3 Incorporating Storytelling into Gender-Based Violence Work: This session highlights Sahiyo’s innovative storytelling program, Voices to End FGM/C, and how other storytelling initiatives have helped spark discussions on gender-based violence. Reflecting on the use of digital platforms, magazines, theater work, film, and art, learn how storytelling can be a powerful tool for social change and amplify the voices of individuals impacted by FGC. Public Webinars Support Our Community Outreach Program
Sahiyo in the U.S. presents a workshop opportunity in May 2018 in collaboration with StoryCenter
From May 4-6, 2018, in conjunction with StoryCenter, Sahiyo in the U.S. will host a 3-day workshop in Berkeley, CA where eight women who grew up in the Bohra community and live in the United States can come together to create their own digital storytelling videos about FGC and the work they do. This project will culminate in the professional production of a two- to three-minute video of participants sharing the story of their anti-FGC advocacy journey. Participants will have full access to this video and full permissions to use it for their own ongoing community leadership and advocacy efforts after the training, and the facilitators will also work to deepen your knowledge of participatory storytelling and the various uses and applications of digital storytelling. If you’re interested in applying to participate in this advanced training—StoryCenter Sahiyo & in the U.S. will cover the cost of the project itself, as well as transportation and accommodations—please read the info below and complete this application by Friday, March 30, 2018. If you have any questions about this project, please feel free to contact mariya@sahiyo.com To see past examples of videos produced by our partner, StoryCenter, click here. To see Mariya’s StoryCenter video, click here.
Thoughts on Tostan’s Training Center Experience
From July 12 to July 21st, Shaheeda and Mariya attended Tostan’s Training Center (TTC) in Senegal. The TTC is an international training course designed to teach participants about its human rights-based approach to community-led development, which the NGO has developed and updated in response to feedback from thousands of communities in different socio-cultural African contexts over the past 20 years. During this third training session hosted by Tostan, participants came from fifteen countries and included community activists, members of local, national and international organizations, of governments, as well as representatives from academia and the media. The training focuses on using a participatory, learner-centered approach that draws its strengths from the expertise of trainers with extensive experience in rural Africa, implementing the Tostan Community Empowerment Program and is designed to serve individuals and groups who share a commitment to human dignity, transformative learning, holistic empowerment, and collective action. Mariya and Shaheeda attended the TTC as Orchid Project Fellows. The Orchid Project is a UK based NGO that advocates for a world free of FGC. As fellows, Mariya and Shaheeda were asked to keep video journals of their experience. To learn more about their experience, click on the links below: TTC Day 3 TTC Day 7 You can also take a look at Gbosa – Tostan Training Center’s July 2016 English Cohort Storify transcript for more details. In the following months, Mariya and Shaheeda will be writing several articles detailing their experience and learnings from the TTC as well. See also Sahiyo heads to Senegal for Tostan Training Centre.