
Supporting Fatim Dembele's Choice of Sovereignty.
Donation protected
Hello: Anitchie!
My name is Adama Dembele and my friends are helping me put together this fundraiser for my eldest daughter's sovereignty and her freedom to choose how she wants to live her life.
I have a 22 year old daughter back home, (Côte d'Ivoire/Ivory Coast) where she lives with her mom. Her mom and most members of my daughters family are from a deeply traditional culture where the young women marry, whether they want to or not. My daughter Fatim has been protected (from forced marriage) by my support of her education. Now that her studies are nearing completion, Fatim is already facing pressure to marry. The reality for Fatim is that if she stays in Côte d'Ivoire, she will be obligated to accept marriage, in the very near future.
In my daughters case she doesn't want to get married and forget about her education, but at this point, because she lives with her mom's family, she has to accept the traditions of the family.
So for me, as her dad - the only way i can help Fatim is to raise the necessary funds to help her move out of Côte d'Ivoire. My first thought was to bring her here, to Asheville, to be close with me in the US. Yet when I spoke with an attorney, he told me there is 6 year wait for that process.
My other option is to provide her with the resources it will take to get moved and settled in another country. While there are many places she can go, my wishes for my daughter are to be safe and loved and able to grow as a young person, into the woman she is destined to be. I know she wants to explore the world, and marry someone she genuinely loves. She does not want an arranged marriage.
So this is why i am asking for your help. Please share my story with your friends and our community both here in Asheville, and our national and international drum, dance and arts community, who support women's sovereignty. Together, I know we can help her.
Thank you for amplifying our message by sharing with friends who are able to hear my call and respond, with donations and kind thoughts.
I am grateful for any donation you can give to Fatim's new life, so we can begin the process of helping my daughter move forward in her life, at her own pace, and in her own way.
Fatim has been studying accounting, and we know once she is settled, her education will support her life. We just need some help to get her moved and settled.
Anitchie.
Adama Dembele
Organizer

Mz imani white
Organizer
Asheville, NC