Sahiyo completed our 2024 Voices to End FGM/C digital storytelling workshop, welcoming 10 new storytellers to our ninth cohort. Since 2018, this initiative has united over 80 survivors, advocates, and community members in sessions designed to empower participants to share their personal stories and experiences with FGC.
This year's workshop was held in a hybrid format, starting with two virtual sessions on May 28 and June 4. These initial online gatherings allowed participants to introduce themselves, share their experiences, and begin forming deep, meaningful connections. The virtual sessions provided a safe and intimate space for storytelling, laying the groundwork for the in-person sessions that followed on June 22-23 at the George Washington University Milken School of Public Health in Washington, D.C.
Once everyone gathered in person, the excitement was palpable as participants, who had bonded over their virtual interactions, finally met face-to-face. The atmosphere was like a reunion of old friends, filled with warmth and familiarity, as the intimate stories that had already been shared created strong bonds among them. During the in-person sessions, participants engaged in various activities designed to deepen their reflections and creative expressions as they recorded the audio and pieced together the visuals for their digital stories. A particularly touching moment was when a participant gifted beautiful scarves to the workshop facilitators, as a way to express her gratitude for the workshop and the supportive community it cultivated. She explained that this gesture is a custom in her community in Ethiopia, symbolizing appreciation and connection.
To capture the inner workings and overall essence of the workshop, we invited a videographer and photographer to document the event on our last day together. They took photos and b-roll footage to create a behind-the-scenes video about the workshop. Facilitators and participants were interviewed about their roles and experiences, and storytellers shared their hopes and aspirations for their videos. These interviews provided deeper insights into the personal journeys, the impact of the workshop, and how the Voices to End FGM/C program has grown over the past few years.
Both the virtual and in-person sessions were transformative, allowing participants to engage in a supportive space where interactions fostered a strong sense of community and solidarity. We are excited to share their stories with all of you in the coming months, showcasing the participants' courage and commitment to ending FGC.
To learn more about the Voices to END FGM/C program click here.