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To all who read this, thank you.
To introduce myself, my name is Allie Dominicali, I am 26 years old and currently living and working as a pediatric nurse in Los Angeles. While I have a deep love for my career working with pediatric patients of various specialties, I have another passion that lives outside of the hospital for which I am seeking support.
For over two years I have had the joy of sharing the practice of yoga online via Zoom with two safe houses, where women and children reside in the small villages of Butiama and Mugumu, Tanzania. Students living there have had to make the terrifying choice to escape from their families in time to avoid FGM. The sheer existence of these homes has saved a countless number of lives.
FGM. Something familiar to some, and to those who aren’t…I do dream of a world where it is a practice that dies in history and people no longer need to be so aware of something so awful. An official definition from the World Health Organization: "Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons."
There at the end, you see? Non-medical…meaning by choice…by cultural practice…against the will of the female enduring this procedure. There is a spectrum of the cutting performed, ranging from partial to total removal of the clitoris, the labia
minora, the labia majora, as well as the closure or narrowing of the vaginal opening (also known as infibulation). There is absolutely zero health benefit to this practice. I thought I understood this concept before staying in Tanzania, but I would like to share some details explained to me in a very human to human way....
- The practice is done to keep the girl’s virginity until they are married. (Forcing the avoidance of premarital sex with men of their choice, as well as rape occurrences from strangers, their father and or brothers)
- The marriage doesn’t frequently come about naturally, they are often arranged.
- The men they are married to are often older, sometimes much older.
- In many cases, the girl is married off in exchange for livestock such as cows.
- The girls are taken to the ceremonial cutter who is usually a woman, by their own mother.
- The girl is often completely unaware of the cutting day, but sometimes they are, in fact, given knowledge of its happening 1-2 days prior. (This is the time it takes to wait for the cutter.)
- This is not performed sterile or in a hospital, this is performed by restraining the girl and cutting without the support of any pain medications.
- Girls frequently die from this cultural practice due to infection, hemorrhaging, systemic shock, etc.
- IF the girl survives, the long-term complications are devastating. Girls grow into womenhood to face psychologic trauma, sexual difficulties, urinary tract infections and pain, require multiple extra surgeries to repair harmful scarring or to assist in the opportunity to deliver a child.
- This practice is ILLEGAL in Tanzania and Hope for Girls and Women work with the local authorities to stop this malpractice.
- Cutting season occurs every other year, this fall and winter of 2024-2025 is cutting season.
I have felt for months after this trip, a cycle of one thought… I will help them, but who am I to be shining light on this cultural practice? I questioned sharing my story from this trip as well as teaching them the past two years. Am I just another white person trying to spring “change” upon something I have no place in? Culture is the foundation of our humanity. It brings beautiful traditions, a sense of place and purpose. But while FGM is a cultural practice, it is also a violation of one’s human rights. This is something I feel a responsibility to advocate for. The past few months I have spent a lot of time consulting with friends, strangers and folks in my community. I wanted to share their story in a way that honors these women and children to raise awareness as well as support their future.
I am determined they will all have a place of peace at night, and will have enough bunkbeds to sleep every girl…no more restless nights of three girls per bed. I am determined they will be able to afford the build of a security gate to stop the threats on their new-found home and its safety. I am determined they will all have a chance to an education, not just waiting for a single donation to cover one or two. I could go on.
What is my big goal here?
First and foremost, it is safety. Funding the build for the new home for the girls in Mugumu, as well as the security wall for the girls in Butiama. All of them have had to make an extremely brave choice to run from FGM, the chance to have their own bed and personal space as they accustom to their new future is deeply important to start the emotional healing.
Second to that is the access to a continued education. While visiting,it came to my attention how many girls yearned for the chance to attend university. They pray and pray for this. There are so many other goals, hopes and dreams I will continueto help them achieve. They are the strongest people I have come to know and to continue lifting them up to reach their potential will allow them to change the world.
While I am the one creating the GoFundMe, the account is 100% directly to their benefit. Every single penny belongs to their safety and future.
➔ The build for a new home that can accommodate all of the women and children is expected to cost around $20,000 USD.
➔ The security gate only estimated to cost $8,000 USD.
➔ The cost of education in the city closest to them (Mwanza) is around $1400 USD per student per year.
➔ Anything else would go towards their wellbeing, such as an extra pair of underwear, razors, toothbrush, feminine hygiene needs…etc.
Our online weekly yoga sessions continue as they have for over two years now. And my visits to them will too. I am heading back to Hope at the same time this year in April. I hope that by then, I can surprise them with the support donated to them.
I want to express my highest gratitude for taking the time to read this. I know with full confidence that given access to resources, these women and girls themselves can advocate through their own stories to help end FGM for good.
Sincerely,
Allie Dominicali
Organizer