Starting March 8th, International Women’s Day, Sahiyo U.S. will be hosting a virtual silent auction to raise funds and awareness for our programs and services to end female genital cutting (FGC). The auction will open on Wednesday, March 8th, 9am PST/ 12pm EST and close on Sunday, March 12th, 6pm PST/ 9pm EST. We have some amazing sponsors and auction items have been provided by our supporters., To uplift and thank them for their contribution, we’re highlighting who they are and why they support Sahiyo. 

Can you tell us more about how Amani Women Center and your work within the FGM/C sphere came to be?

The Amani Women Center (AWC) provides culturally tailored programs and services that empower and contribute to the economic security, spiritual, mental, and physical well-being of refugee and immigrant women. AWC serves communities where FGM/C is prevalent. 

What is your connection to the issue of FGM/C? 

I was co-author on a research study that AWC conducted in partnership with National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at The University of Chicago and the CDC on African refugee women based in Clarkston, Georgia. "The Women’s Health Needs Study of US women from countries with high prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: design, methods, and participant characteristics" - still in process to be published. We found that over 50% of the women who participated in this study have undergone FGM/C. During the study, there was a cry for help from these women to support their medical and emotional needs.

What is your SOS initiative? 

Amani’s Save Our Sisters (SOS) initiative seeks to secure medical care for refugee women in Clarkston, GA suffering from serious health problems caused by FGM/C. By purchasing our cloth button items (necklaces, bookmarks, hair clips and pins, magnets), proudly handcrafted by refugee women at the Amani Sewing Academy, you are helping refugee women access life-changing medical services, including restorative surgery. Each item is one of a kind and will therefore vary from the pictures. Please check them out here.

We established a team of compassionate women physicians and a capable counselor as part of our team; our Community Ambassadors serve as interpreters as well, and we educate and support. It is a slow process to which we are unfailingly committed.  We are delighted to have had the first vaginal surgery which was very successful and freeing for the woman involved.

How did you first hear about Sahiyo and what did you donate?  

I first heard about Sahiyo through Arefa Cassoobhoy. We donated five beautiful hand-crafted fabric button necklaces proudly made by refugee women.  

Why did you choose to donate to Sahiyo’s silent auction? 

AWC is donating to Sahiyo because we believe in the mission and vision to stop FGM/C. This aligns and compliments our mission to provide medical and mental health support to who have gone through FGM/C.

How would you like to see your donation help Sahiyo grow? 

AWC believes in your call to action to end FGM/C. Incredible progress has been made, but so much more can be done together. AWC would like to see the donations support your efforts to raise funds to expand awareness for your mission. 

How can organizations like Amani Women Center and Sahiyo collaborate to achieve our common goal of ending FGM/C?

We can do exactly what we are doing now, standing together to bring awareness to end FGM/C. 

Starting March 8th, International Women’s Day, Sahiyo U.S. will be hosting a virtual silent auction to raise funds and awareness for our programs and services to end female genital cutting (FGC). The auction will open on Wednesday, March 8th, 9am PST/ 12pm EST and close on Sunday, March 12th, 6pm PST/ 9pm EST. We have some amazing sponsors and auction items have been provided by our supporters., To uplift and thank them for their contribution, we’re highlighting who they are and why they support Sahiyo. 

When and how did your involvement with Sahiyo first begin?

I first learned about Sahiyo from Mariya Taher, one of the founders. A mutual friend introduced us back in 2015 as I was launching my yoga business, Selfmade, dedicated to marginalized bodies. Over the years, I had heard of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), and definitely imagined it to be occurring outside of the United States, if at all still happening in modern day. As I learned more from Sahiyo about the topic, I saw how it is not only a local and present topic, but also a tender one. Women and men affiliated with Sahiyo are brave in their willingness to speak up, while holding respect for their culture and the people practicing due to tradition.

Why did you decide to give to Sahiyo’s silent auction? What does the event mean to you?

 Over the years I have donated here and there, not only in support of the work itself, but also because I’ve always been impressed by Sahiyo’s unique and creative programming. I am overjoyed to support Sahiyo’s silent auction as they continue to expand their reach, their services, and their organizational structure. I decided to give for these reasons, and am hopeful that the event will have a great turnout!

What did you donate?

I donated a coaching package of six 30-minute sessions for Executive Leadership or Life-Leadership Coaching ($900 value).

• Executive Leadership Coaching for CEOs & EDs is thought partnership and external input for those with the title of "leader". Too often the decision makers at an organization don't have the much needed chance to process out loud for problem solving, naming gray areas, and nuanced skill improvement. Together, we hold space for complex topics such as organizational culture/strategy/change, programming enhancements, and DEI topics (including self-reflection on your racial identity journey).
• Life-Leadership Coaching for All is thought partnership and external input for those without the formal title of "leader" who are seeking to access or hone their internal compass. Life is full of constant decisions and opportunity costs. This style of coaching helps one process where they have been, where they are, and where they want to go. In a culture focused on consumption and achievement, Danae helps you to self-define your goals and metrics of success. Sometimes sessions will aim to push you harder, and sometimes sessions will encourage you to fall back. 

How would you like to see your donation help Sahiyo grow?

As someone who has studied both social change and organizational strategy, I know how important it is for nonprofits to receive not only ample funding, but also unrestricted funding specifically. Unrestricted funding will allow Sahiyo to support areas of growth that they know are most urgent, separate from grant requirements.

Why do you think others should donate to Sahiyo?

As a grassroots organization, Sahiyo impacts the community it is serving while serving them. In other words, the goal of empowering women WHILE ending FGM/C is baked into the process via giving women “the mic” and the chance for their stories to be heard. My heritage is mixed, and does not include a culture that practices FGM, but I am familiar with how women are disempowered physically, economically, and politically by cultural practices. Separate from FGM/C, the common practice of hypersexualizing women and girls while demonizing the expression of sexuality places women at constant odds with our body and sense of safety or self.  I think others should donate to Sahiyo because pleasure and sexuality are foundational aspects of our lives, and people deserve to make decisions about their own bodies. Ending FGM/C is one way of not only impacting this generation of women, but future generations too. Pleasure is a source of energy and wisdom for activism (see Adrienne Maree Brown ‘Pleasure Activism’). When we nourish people’s ability to access their basic needs, including pleasure, we have a better chance of addressing the pressing issues of our time.

Starting March 8th, International Women’s Day, Sahiyo U.S. will be hosting a virtual silent auction to raise funds and awareness for our programs and services to end female genital cutting (FGC). The auction will open on Wednesday, March 8th, 9am PST/ 12pm EST and close on Sunday, March 12th, 6pm PST/ 9pm EST. We have some amazing sponsors and auction items have been provided by our supporters. To uplift and thank them for their contribution, we’re highlighting who they are and why they support Sahiyo. 

When and how did your involvement with Sahiyo first begin?

So, I think it started when I had a conversation with my cousin, who was familiar with Sahiyo’s work, about FGM/C and he told me about all the great work that Sahiyo is doing. Back in the 70s, I was practicing medicine in The Middle East, and it was a great shock to me that my co-workers and colleagues, all doctors, were circumcising their own daughters. I think that’s when I first began feeling passionate about this issue. I only actively got involved with Sahiyo after speaking with Arefa Casshobhoy, who, at a community gathering, asked me if I’d like to get more familiar with Sahiyo’s work. I said, 100%, this is what I really believe in. Arefa’s a splendid person, and she really pushed me to think about my role in contributing to this work. 

Why did you decide to donate to Sahiyo’s silent auction? What does the event mean to you? 

When I saw what Sahiyo was doing, I was immediately committed to helping in any way that I could. The more money we raise, the more work we can do. I don’t mind putting my book out– it has already been well received and reviewed, and I have done hundreds of interviews and podcasts to help people understand heart disease, as it is the leading cause of death in the world today. So, my point is, by donating four copies of my book to Sahiyo’s auction, I want to help the organization raise as much money as possible, while also providing valuable information to the highest bidder. 

What did you donate?

I donated four signed copies of my book, Open Heart, as well as an hour of my time to answer any of the highest bidder’s questions over a Zoom call. I wear three hats- a doctor, an open heart surgery survivor, and a septuagenarian athlete. So, I can and will answer any questions from the highest bidder regarding the prevention of chronic disease, fitness, and open heart surgery. I want people to learn from my shortcomings and mistakes, and at the same time contribute to a cause that is close to me.

How would you like to see your donation help Sahiyo grow? 

 My broad focus of the impact of this donation is contributing to ending this practice of FGM/C. I want this cause to be helped, whether it is Nigeria or Egypt or the U.S., or wherever. That is my first aim. And then, if I am needed for other things, such as the Bhaiyo program, I will use whatever expertise I have to contribute to it. I’ve gotten so much from the community, and I want to give back. It is my community, too.

Why do you think others should donate to Sahiyo? 

I think others should donate to Sahiyo, because, in my opinion, there is no better way for them to contribute to something larger than themselves. The message I would give to others is this: donate your time, donate your expertise, and donate your money. Whether you are an actor, a CEO, a physician, or whatever, and if you have the means, use your resources and skill-sets to donate to this cause. It is not going to get better unless we act now. My final message to people is: dig deep in your pockets. 

By Hunter Kessous

Texas and Idaho are two states in which female genital cutting (FGC) is illegal under state law, for now. In both states, amendments have been proposed in the state legislature that would alter existing policy against FGC to ban gender-affirming care for minors. Gender-affirming care includes social, psychological, behavioral, and medical practices which affirm the gender identity for individuals whose gender does not match the one they were assigned at birth. These amendments are dangerous for transgender youth as well as children who are at risk for or have undergone FGC.

These legislative revisions attempt to conflate FGC and gender-affirming treatments, so it is critical to understand the difference between the two. Gender-affirming care, including social interventions, pubertal suppression, hormone therapy, and gender-affirming surgeries, has been shown to decrease rates of depression, improve psychosocial functioning, and have minimal long-term side effects for transgender individuals.

To learn more about the differences between gender-affirming treatments and FGC, read here.

According to Equality Texas, 76 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were filed in the last legislative session and special sessions in Texas, of which only 20 moved forward and one passed. These legislative failures have led Texas lawmakers to take up a more creative and dangerous approach to get what they want. Bill SB249 amends the state’s Health and Safety code, which has made FGC illegal in Texas since 2017. This legislation is concerning because “Female Genital Mutilation” would be entirely removed from the law, leaving only the term “Genital Mutilation.” Failing to specifically prohibit FGC weakens protections for children who are at risk of undergoing the practice.

The amendment adds a list of surgeries that would be prohibited, some of which fall under the WHO classification of FGC, while others are gender-affirming surgeries – thereby wrongfully conflating the two. In addition to removing access to life-saving care for transgender youth, this section is troubling because FGC is not always performed as a surgery. Rather, FGC is often done outside of a medical setting. Bill SB249 puts children  at risk of undergoing FGC into a more vulnerable position.

Unfortunately, Texas’s state legislature is not alone in pursuing this dangerous action. In Idaho, HB71 has already passed the house and will now be reviewed by state senators. Once again, the term “Female Genital Mutilation” is erased from the law. The language is amended to only refer to practices performed by medical practitioners. However, we know FGC often operates outside of the healthcare system entirely, so this amendment could limit avenues of prosecution against FGC practices. Furthermore, the maximum sentence for breaking the law against FGC is currently life, but this amendment would change the maximum sentence to 10 years, further removing protections for children at risk of undergoing FGC.

Where the Texas bill bans gender-affirming surgeries, the Idaho bill goes a step further. Even puberty-blocking medication and hormone therapy would be banned under Idaho’s amendment. Pubertal suppression is a method of delaying puberty, and hormonal therapy causes secondary sex characteristic development that aligns with one’s gender. Both are reversible and associated with better mental health outcomes for transgender youth. Banning these life-saving treatments has no basis in the movement to end FGC.

If you are an Idaho or Texas resident, please consider contacting your state legislators to let them know you do not support these bills.

Sahiyo U.S. is proud to announce that Mariya Taher, Sahiyo Co-Founder and U.S. Executive Director, is one of the new LEAP Leaders, joining Cohort 9!

For the past ten years, the LEAP (Leadership Education and Advancement for Professionals) program has created a container where leaders of color can learn, strategize, and build community with each other. LEAP has brought together leaders from across the United States and territories to cultivate a multi-racial network of leaders striving to define what being an executive leader in the gender-based violence field looks like and to expand opportunities for advancement through professional development and networking. 

Learn more about the LEAP program here.

Starting March 8th, International Women’s Day, Sahiyo U.S. will be hosting a virtual silent auction to raise funds and awareness for our programs and services to end female genital cutting (FGC). The auction will open on Wednesday, March 8th, 9am PST/ 12pm EST and close on Sunday, March 12th, 6pm PST/ 9pm EST. We have some amazing sponsors and auction items have been provided by our supporters., To uplift and thank them for their contribution, we’re highlighting who they are and why they support Sahiyo.

When and how did your involvement with Sahiyo first begin? 

I was only very recently formally introduced to Sahiyo by Arefa Casshobhoy, who is the daughter of one of my closest friends. Before that, I knew of the organisation’s existence through my daughter, who had interacted with Sahiyo in California about four years ago. Even then, I was not aware of the work that was being done by the organisation; however, regarding the practice of FGM/C, I have been aware of it since I was in high school, and it is an issue that’s very close to my heart. My cousin, a doctor who was much older than me, talked to me about it as I was growing up. We made sure that it was not practiced within our own family. So when Arefa talked to me about Sahiyo, I was thrilled to learn about the work that you all are doing. 

Why did you decide to give to Sahiyo’s Silent Auction? What does the event mean to you? 

When I heard that Sahiyo was hosting its first-ever Auction, I knew I wanted to help in whatever way I could. I knew it would be hard for me to physically get involved because of my age andthe nature of work on Khatna would be overwhelming for me. But, I thought that the least I could do was financially contribute to the cause. 

What did you donate?

I donated $500 in cash, and since I am a franchisee of Taco Bell, I matched my donation with $500 worth of Taco Bell coupons. 

How would you like your donation to help Sahiyo grow? 

I think I’d like this money to go towards generating awareness. It’s so sad, you know, that this practice is so hush-hush within our [Bohra] community and half the men in the household don’t even know it is taking place. I wish more men would get educated and involved in this, just as I was given the opportunity to do when I was younger. 

Why do you think others should donate to Sahiyo? 

 With Sahiyo’s wide volunteer network and people like Arefa on the Advisory Board, I know that the team truly cares about the work that they are doing and the money is going in the right direction. People should donate to Sahiyo U.S. because their donations will be used prudently, and for a great cause. 

A note from the Editor: If you are interested in male engagement work around FGM/C, we encourage you to look into Sahiyo’s male ally program, Bhaiyo.

Starting March 8th, International Women’s Day, Sahiyo U.S. will be hosting a virtual silent auction to raise funds and awareness for our programs and services to end female genital cutting (FGC). The auction will open on Wednesday, March 8th, 9am PST/ 12pm EST and close on Sunday, March 12th, 6pm PST/ 9pm EST. We have some amazing sponsors and auction items have been provided by our supporters., To uplift and thank them for their contribution, we’re highlighting who they are and why they support Sahiyo.

When and how did your involvement with Sahiyo first begin? 

Back in 2015, I was invited to join a WhatsApp group of women around the world who were starting to talk about khatna or female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in the Bohra community. This mighty group of women included the founders of Sahiyo. I had recently learned that khatna was taking place within my community and had also learned that I had been cut as a 7-year old girl.  I was still working on accepting that my community perpetrated this harmful traditional practice, but hearing what other women had experienced further reinforced the impact of this practice and spurred me to speak out publicly about khatna. Since then I have been connected to Sahiyo in various ways, as a partner with WeSpeakOut, a retreat organizer, a volunteer, and now, as Vice-Chair of the Advisory Board.

Why did you decide to become a donor for Sahiyo’s Inaugural Women’s Day Celebration and Silent Auction? What does giving to Sahiyo mean to you?  

When Sahiyo came up with the idea of a Silent Auction AND a Comedy Show, I was hooked! It's such a fun way to do good in the world and I know how hard the staff at Sahiyo has worked to make this event outstanding. This International Women's Day event is an indication that many people feel passionate about human rights and are willing to do what it takes to ensure girls are safe from harm. 

I want to see Sahiyo thrive and continue to do its important work to reach as many people as possible. Supporting Sahiyo is very personal to me.  Sahiyo's founders, staff, and volunteers have taught me so many skills to help process my experience of khatna and to help me find my voice so that I can spread awareness and educate others on the risks of the practice.  I love to support the amazing work Sahiyo does so that others can benefit from their programs as I have.

What did you donate?

Two of my friends, who are artists, commissioned pieces for the auction. I'm so excited to share their work with a larger audience! You can now preview Kiran Zaman’s Kiran Zaman’s We Don’t Bow Our Heads, an original mixed media artwork piece derived from the Urdu poem, "We Sinful Women," by Kishwar Naheed, online. 

How would you like to see your donation help Sahiyo grow? 

Sahiyo does so many important things but one thing that I find to be critical is empowering and amplifying the voices of those impacted by FGM/C. One of my favorite Sahiyo programs is the Voices workshop which brings diverse voices together and helps those impacted by FGM/C to share their stories and experiences. I saw, first hand, how impactful this sharing can be when my Voices video was first promoted in 2018. Not only did I benefit personally from telling my story, but I also gained new friends and learned that my story had helped others who were in the same boat as me.  

Why do you think others should donate to Sahiyo? 

I would highly encourage supporting Sahiyo as everyone involved in the organization is 100% committed to the mission and is laser focused in ensuring their work is done sensitively and respectfully. If your goal is to positively impact the lives of countless women and girls, you can do no better than to donate to Sahiyo so that they can continue to grow their range of programs to expand that impact even further. Ending FGM/C is the ultimate goal and supporting Sahiyo's programs will bring us closer to that goal.

In 2019, the Idaho Legislature established a law protecting girls from female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), recognizing it as a violation of human rights. 

Yet, for the past two years, the same Idaho Legislature has targeted Trans youth, another vulnerable community, by attempting to amend the existing FGM/C law. This amendment would prohibit gender-affirming healthcare from being performed on children, even if they have parental consent. 

In 2022, Rep. Bruce Skaung introduced HB 675, which would prohibit surgery “if it is for the sole purpose of attempting to change or affirm the child’s perception of the child’s sex if that perception is inconsistent with the child’s biological sex.” The bill passed the House but was rejected by the Senate, as it was viewed to be an infringement on parental rights.

However, as of February 15th, another attempt is being made to take away medical care for Trans youth through HB 71. This bill has passed the House and is on to the Senate for a vote. 

This Bill is problematic for many reasons; particularly the false assumption that gender-affirming care and FGM/C are comparable. They are not. This Bill puts Trans youth and children at risk of FGM/C, both vulnerable groups, in greater danger. Diluting the current statue, Idaho Code 18-1506B, with attempts to discriminate against Trans youth will ultimately hurt more children and inhibit progress in ending FGM/C in Idaho.

Learn more about this Bill by reading this Statement from the US End FGM Network.