Gedi*, a 44-year-old schoolteacher residing in an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Puntland, found himself grappling with the harsh realities of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). He is the father of five children, four daughters, and a son. Four of his children attend the same school where he teaches, with his oldest in her eighth grade.

Gedi* and his family lived in a makeshift home in the outskirts of the city before relocating to this camp for better life opportunities for both him and his children. In 2014, following their move, Gedi* participated, along with others in the camp, in awareness programs aimed to educate the community about the harmful practice. The program consisted of community conversations, dialogues, trainings, and workshops, engaging sessions targeting the community at all levels.

Initially entrenched in traditional beliefs that deemed FGM as essential, Gedi* was reluctant to even be part of the discussion; after all, FGM was considered a religious practice and a societal norm. He believed that FGM was necessary for girls, that it was shameful if a girl was not circumcised, and that a girl's purity depended on it. But after months of ongoing training, conversations, and discussions with religious leaders and health workers, Gedi*’s perspective shifted.

Reflecting on his past misconceptions, Gedi* admitted that the lack of knowledge in health risks made conversations about the topic difficult. However, through the workshops and dialogues, he gained insights into the profound harm and health risks associated with the practice. His own daughters had undergone FGM, leading him to harbour remorse and a determination to protect his younger daughters from such ordeals.

With this newfound knowledge, Gedi* actively engaged in awareness sessions within the community, challenging traditional views during teatime dialogues with fellow fathers. The camp also witnessed a positive shift as more families, including Gedi*'s, chose to abandon the harmful practice.

Identifying the economic motives behind some women perpetuating FGM, Gedi* and his fellow community members advocated for alternative income sources, understanding the need to support families without inflicting intergenerational trauma. Despite challenges, he continues his mission, urging religious leaders to address communities directly and dismantle the deep-seated beliefs that sustain FGM.

Gedi*'s journey from believing FGM as a part of social norm and religious obligation to advocating for ending the practice shows the importance and power of community conversations and open dialogues in challenging harmful traditions. Gedi* hopes for more community and religious leaders to join the cause, sparing future generations from the needless suffering imposed by outdated practices.

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Gedi*’s Story:

‘‘My name is Gedi*; I am 44 years old. I live in an IDP Camp, in Puntland. I am a father of five children, four girls and one boy.

I am a schoolteacher, I teach Somali language, and my wife sometimes works as a casual laborer. Before we moved to this camp, we used to live in a makeshift home, in another camp that was built in the city. But in 2014, we moved to this camp, and I started teaching in this school.

All my children go to school, except for the youngest. My oldest is currently in her eighth grade, and all of my children attend the same school I am teaching at.

When we moved to this camp, there was continuous awareness about Female gentile mutilation. Back then, it was hard to understand the whole purpose of the awareness, because I used to believe that it was shameful or even sinful for girls not to undergo FGM. I had no idea of the real human cost.

I, like many in the community used to believe that unless a girl has undergone FGM, she is not pure or clean and the health risks, and emotional effect of FGM on girls were always ignored and dismissed because to the most, FGM was considered to be a religious practice and social acceptance depended on it. Families were stigmatized if they had a girl that was not circumcised and even talking about FGM was something that was not open for discussion.

 Save the Children and Tadamun started organizing back-to-back training and dialogues. They made us look from the perspective of the harm this will cause to girls, both long term and short term. They made us understand the religious standpoint with the help of religious leaders. They even had health workers sit with us to discuss the health risks of the practice.

And after attending months of workshops, community conversations, trainings, my views changed gradually. I saw how our old attitudes perpetuated harm against girls. I learned of the great harm and health risks of FGM. Once I understood the violations and health risks of FGM, I felt great remorse for what my daughters might have endured. My oldest two daughters both undergone FGM at that time, so my wife and I have agreed that we would never subject my younger daughters to the same ordeal. Like my family, many of our community made the same decision.

As we gained great understanding and knowledge of the matter, I started doing awareness sessions and engaging in dialogues within the community, mostly with fathers at our regular teatime, this shows the great change in the community.

In the workshops and dialogues, we have identified that there are women who do this practice for a living, and they were often hindering the efforts we were making because their income depended on it. So, we have suggested to the organization to help them find another income and teach them about the violation they are doing. But some still secretly practice, whether out of customs or financial need. All mothers deserve to support their families without inflicting intergenerational trauma. 

I believe open dialogue guided by honesty can transform even the most stubborn views rooted in tradition. If only more of our religious scholars and leaders would speak directly to communities about the needless cruelty of FGM, I know in my heart that could save thousands of terrified girls across our region from lifelong suffering.

I hope more community and religious leaders will join this cause for the sake of all daughters in our communities.’’

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About FGM programme in Puntland.

FGM/C and CEFM are two of the most extreme forms of violation of child rights, which are prevalent in Somalia. Save the Children in Somalia are currently implementing a new five-year programme to continue the work to end Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) and Child and Early Forced Marriage (CEFM) in Somalia.  The objective is to build on results achieved from the previous period and to contribute to the elimination of all forms of FGM/C and CEFM in targeted communities. To achieve this, the focus is on four priority areas; (1) transform dominant social norms that promote FGM/C and CEFM and violate the rights of women and girls; (2) empower women and girls to realize their rights and protect themselves from FGM/C and CEFM; (3) ensure women and girls at risk/and survivors of FGM have access to appropriate and adequate medical, psychosocial support (PSS), and livelihood services; and (4) strengthen civil society organisations (CSOs) to advocate for enactment and enforcement of laws and establishment of a legal framework.