HELP SUPPORT VICTIMS OF FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION

Lesha 21, is a victim of FGM. Here is her story:

‘I was mutilated along with my baby sister. She was 9, and I was 11. After the circumcision, I don't know what happened exactly, but she died. What I remember is she was blamed for not taking their herbs and everything they were doing to help her, which never included taking her to a doctor. She was blamed for not surviving, and I was praised for taking it well. She was my best friend. We shared a room. We used to play with our dolls and have tea parties together. She was gone, and they blamed her for it. When we came back, no one asked about what happened to her. No one asked why she was just no longer there. I was told to forget it, like it never happened.

Sex is painful, and I hate, hate, hate it. I hate being touched. It feels like rape every time. I cry inside, I cry out loud, and my husband does not care. It does not hurt him. I had Type-3 FGM, and I was reopened after we were married.

My husband will kill me if he ever finds out that I spoke out against FGM and my parents will back him up. But I know that my story needs to be heard. When someone speaks out about FGM, the whole community turns against them. Plus, we have no protection.

My hope is for survivors of FGM to have a safe place to go to without being judged. I also want a reconstructive surgery not just for me but for everyone like me.‘

Please click this link for more stories like this: FGM Survivor Stories

After reading countless articles about young girls being brutally mutilated and many dying as a result, i thought enough is enough! No girl should be forced to put their life at risk because of an ancient tradition which oppresses women and denies them a normal life. 3 million girls between infancy and the age of 15 undergo FGM every year and many die as a result. The money raised will be used to provide emotional support and surgery i.e. removing stitches and treating wounds to give the survivors a better life.

Those who are unable to help themselves should be helped by those who can so please contribute to this cause to help FGM survivors.