Towards A Generation Free FGM: My Story Of Resistance And Change

Towards A Generation Free FGM: My Story Of Resistance And Change

Growing up in a community where FGM is accepted as a tradition, I have witnessed first hand the silent suffering of girls whose futures are ripped off of them at tender ages. Their pains have shaped my path and their stories fueled my voice to speak out . Today, my advocacy is not just my work, it is a personal mission , born from lived experiences and beliefs that every girl deserves dignity, safety and the freedom to choose her own future. I have seen my community struggle between tradition and change; experiences that made me understand the fear, the pressure and expectations young girls face in an environment where FGM is normalized.

My advocacy revolves around empowering young people especially girls, with knowledge, safe spaces and platforms to voice their experiences. I have been actively involved in SRHR education, ensuring young women and adolescents understand their rights, bodily autonomy and access to safe services. Through community dialogues, school mentorship and peer sessions, I help demisting myths around FGM and equip girls with information that can protect their futures. Real change requires collaborative community involvement; I work closely with parents, elders , youth groups and local leaders to break the culture of silence surrounding FGM. These dialogues help shift mindsets, build trust and reshape traditions towards protecting-not harming our girls.

However meaningful and impactful the work may seem, there are obstacles accompanying challenges to it. Deep rooted cultural norms and beliefs often makes challenging FGM to seem like challenging existing norms that many a times leads to resistance and being labelled as disrespecting culture. As an advocate against FGM, stigma and quiet hostility is the price we pay especially from people who fear change. Also, listening to survivor stories, witnessing pain and creating room for such heavy stories weighs me down emotionally. Not forgetting, sustaining community driven interventions with limited resources and funding is difficult at times. Despite these challenges, what keeps me going and is one of my proudest achievements, is seeing girls boldly speak up against FGM. Girls holding such vital conversations in their own safe spaces with utmost confidence is a a positive sign of a future free from FGM. Young people in my community are increasingly leading conversations about bodily autonomy, consent and SRHR; a powerful and necessary shift. Towards a future free from FGM, I envision a future where every girl grows up safe, uncut and empowered. I envision a communities that reject harmful practices with pride instead of shame and young people lead and shape advocacy landscape using creativity, media and innovation. Until every girl is safe, I will continue to speak, advocate, empower and fight - because the future we imagine is possible and wr are the generation to end FGM!

Sophia Tibaya

Associate Project Officer

Tunaweza Empowerment Organization