Dear Friends,
This guestbook is for all our friends and supporters, I am looking forward to your contribution.
Waris
Latest News
In this section you find the latest news on FGM from around the world
Desert Flower the Movie
The movie tells the story of Waris' incredible journey from the Somalian Desert to the biggest catwalks of the world... read more
Thank you Waris for your story. You are an inspiration. I wish I had the words to say more.
Dear Waris,
I´m a 18 year old brasilian woman, and although I live in a country with alot of ethnical diferences which survive in peace with each other most of the time, I never knew how serious and worldwide this problem was, and mainly I didn´t know it happened in hear as well. By watching your movie I realised that people like you are very important to the world, and specially important to people in need. You are an inspiration, and a exemple of the ideal human being.
Congratulations for being who you are.
Amanda
Thank you Waris for taking your life into your own hands to be the person who you are today and using your voice to expose FGM. I just saw the film and your story was so inspirational and important for all women to see and or read about! I posted about it on facebook and want to continue spreading the word. If humanity wants to survive we must take care of our girls, our women! Thank you, I don’t have all the right words to say, just thank you and God Bless!
Tanhk you Waris. See your film and know better about your story make me think better about the pain that many women pass through all over the word.
I’m from Brasil and here we also have violence against women. I hope that all women around the word can get together and fight together for respect and the right to be a free woman with all the beauty that a woman has. I hope I could wright ok.
Thank you very much
Dear Waris, i’m Selina, 15 years old, and i do a presentation about you and your life.
NOw, i’ve got a question and i can’t find a answer in the internet.
what have you exactly done while the campaign? Where you in Somalia to explain the people that it’s wrong what they do?
Hope i can get an answer soon
P.S. your book desert flower is really heart-warming and i thank you for making the people advertent on this deficit in some parts of the world. thank you very much and god bless!
Dear Waris,
Thank you very much for sharing your story with the world. I just saw your heart breaking movie (Desert Flower) and I must confess that it made me cry.
As you, I’m an African born citizen, but immigrated with my family to Brazil when the war broke in Angola back in 1974.
As a father of a 8 years old daughter who I deeply love, I must thank you very much for your courage to fight female genital mutilation and for standing against this horrific crime against all women in the world.
God bless you / As-Salamu Alaykum.
I saw your film yesterday and had read your book some time ago. What an amazing story. I am a midwife so know the problems FGM can cause. Thankyou for everything you have done for the cause.
One thing though……….aside from the disturbing real story of your troubles, I was disturbed by the scene in the film where you are portrayed as a 3 year old being mutilated – I was very upset to see this child actor in what seemed to be real distress – please tell me that somehow this was a trick of cinematography and not genuine distress – how would you get such a young actor to do this? She was being restrained by the actor portraying your mother and the scene looked extremely harsh, including the fake blood – how do you explain that to a 3 year old actor? I hope you can allay my fear that for the sake of your film another young girl was not abused (but obviously not cut in the most abusive way that so many are).
Hi Lisa,
thank you for your words.
There is no need for fear – it was just a film trick!
All the best,
Desert Flower Foundation
Hy Waris,
I thanks you
I saw your film yesterday and just no words ! I really feel something inside of my femele body, your story change something into me, in my mind, i don’t konw what yet but i feel different.
I would like to thank you for the courage you had to share your story with us, i would be so hard for you but you did it ! Thakn you so much for that. You are a wonderfull person, a human full of love and conviction, and finishing, you are a Women with a big W ! You are a beautifful represent of our all around the world.
So from Quebec, by a belgian citizen
Love you, big hug. xoxo
Thank you for telling your story. I cant find the words to say how I am feeling after reading your book and watching your movie. I just wish there was more we could do to stop this from happening to more powerless children…
Dear Waris,
I just saw your movie “Desert Flower” today… I am speachless.
((
The movie was incredible touching!
Of course I knew about the problem with FGM, but I have never really thought about it before… I cant even begin to imagine how its like to undergo such a horrible procedure!!!
I am speachless.
I will definately donate to your organization, and I hope one day soon this will come to an end.
My thoughts and prayers goes to all the little girls and women around the world that is effected by this…
With love,
Rachel <3
hi,,
thanks for telling your story.
I’m Rose I’m 15 years and live in Holland.
I’m making a book report about it.
I just wanna tell that your story make me cry
all the best
loves Rose
As a doctor and mother of five working in Ethiopia with women who have endured FGM its so tragic to see the pain ,disability and even death from complicated deliveries.
I feel so helpless and sad when they look at the sky and say they “can only just pray “.
Education is the key ,acceptance can no longer happen but by empowerment women can have control of their bodies and lives .A breath of fresh air to see young generations of African women incredibly driven an moved as we ,are by your courage and sheer determination to make changes happen and raise awareness.
I am in awe of all you do and look forward to your next projects.
inspired …….Dr C
Dearest Waris,
I want to thank you for having the courage and grace to share your story, in order to let the whole world know of this terrible custom which is FGM. As a woman, born in North America, I cry for all the young girls who are born in countries that believe FGM to be acceptable.
As women, none should have to be tortured in this way, because of the country they are born in. It is an atrocity and it should stop.
Because of your courage and sharing your story, you have surely awoken the world to this atrocity and hopefully soon, all girls, regardless of where they live and regardless of their customs and traditions, none will have to suffer again of this.
My best wishes to you and peace to all
Dearest Mrs. Dirie & friends,
Two days ago I watched your movie, holding my newborn child in my arms. A girl.
I am a proud mother of three girls. Ever-since I saw the film I cannot change a dyper without wanting to cry. I cannot hold my 2 year-old without remembering the scene in the desert, the shouting, the tears, being left alone afterwards. WHAT A HORROR! This MUST STOP immediately!!!!
I once saw an excellent report on the Belgian Broadcast Canvas about FGM. The face of that girl that would not talk anymore since this torture-practice had been done to her, remains in my head and under my skin.
This practice must be fought as long as it keeps on going on and on.
6000 girls each day????????? Can’t stop thinking about it.
Thankyouthankyou!
Isabel
Waris I love your life story. I always use your example to talk about FGM in my classroom because I teach biology.
My students are shocked, but the message is transmitted.
Thank you. God bless you
Dear Waris,
Your story is very touching and unbeliveably true. I am so pround that there are people,especially women like you in the world who cares about human rights. What’s more I must admit that you are very stong woman and I am proud of you! You can be inspiration for millions
Dear Waris
I’ve just read your book “Desert Children” (having previously read “Desert Flower”), I’m a London-based journalist and FGM researcher, and I found “Desert Children” so useful, even though it is now about 7 years out of date.
I very much like your honesty, particularly as regards the French surgeon Pierre Foldes, and his clinical attitude towards reconstruction surgery.
I was also interested in your opposition to the project of finding work for “cutters”, aka “circumcisors” in Africa and elsewhere. Jane Ellison MP, a determined campaigner against FGM, is in favour of this idea, and your views have made me reconsider my agreement with her.
Anyway, I’m currently making my plans to fit in as many events as possible around Zero Tolerance Day in Feb.
But between now and February, goodness only knows how many girls will have undergone this cruel, pointless procedure.
Courage!
Milá Waris,
Mám 18 rokov a pochádzam zo Slovenska, prečítala som si Vaše knihy. A za to čo robíte, a čím ste si prešli Vás obdivujem. Ja sama si neviem predstaviť ako by som to zvládla a žila stým pocitom že mi niečo chýba. Je veľká škoda že na Slovensku sa o FMG nerozpráva alebo sa nás to až tak netýka, alebo aj keď áno tak nemáme dostatok informácií. V škole nemáme o niečom takom prednášky ako robíte, nemáme informácie ako pomôcť alebo vôbec vedieť čo sa deje vo svete dievčatám a ženám. Mrzí ma to že, západné krajiny sú vyspelejšie ako Slovensko, že môžu pomôcť a aspoň trochu zabrániť tomuto týraniu.
Veľa šťastia.
Waris,
Thank you for finding that inner strength to get to where you are today! Thank you for reminding each woman and man on this planet how important it is to RESPECT each other’s dignity and to find appreciation in each individual’s gifts!
I am a social worker in Illinois and was so profoundly touched by your story, especially the heart-wrenching and realistically painful depiction of a 3yr old beautiful child being genitally mutilated.
You represent all the females that came before you and those that have yet to be born!
Peace always!
Hellen