More Than A Survivor: An interview with Farzana

Sahiyo understands that being a survivor of female genital cutting (FGC) is just one moment of your life and only one part of who you are as a person. Oftentimes, being labeled as a survivor can prevent people from seeing a person in any other context beyond survivorship.

Our campaign, #MoreThanASurvivor, explores our individuality and shows the world what makes us unique. After all, who we are is made up of all the moments in our lives, not just one.

Interview:

Where do you live?

Toronto, Canada

Where’s the favorite place you have traveled to, lived in, or would like to visit?

Istanbul, Turkey

What are some of your passions?

Writing, traveling, reading, activism

What does an average day look like for you?

8am-9am: meditate and check social media; 9am-12pm: write novels/poetry; 12pm-2pm: walk my senior dog and lunch; 2:30pm-7:30pm: see clients in my psychotherapy practice; 8:30-11:00; post-dinner wind-down with reading, exercise, Netflix, online events

What are some things you do for self-care?

Meditation, therapy, impromptu living room dancing

What are five words to describe you?

Creative, earnest, bossy, compassionate, driven

What are your hobbies?

Cycling, online dancing, reading

What is your profession?

Part-time author and part-time psychotherapist

What did you want to be when you grew up?

As a child, I would perform plays for my family and imagined being a stage actor. 

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What is your favorite food?

My mom’s daal, rice, and kheema

What is your proudest achievement?

Publishing four novels

What is a hidden talent that you possess? 

I am an amateur tarot card reader.