October Newsletter: Ayaan speaks at Pepperdine University, U.S.-born FGM survivor tells her story, and a progress update on the fight against FGM in the U.S.

On International Day of the Girl Child last week, thousands of supporters, people like you, read and shared a blog written by a courageous, U.S.-born, white, Christian woman who underwent female genital mutilation (FGM) as a little girl and turned to advocacy to protect other girls in the U.S. from this horrendous practice. If you missed her blog, you can find it here. 

On October 1, I spoke about the transformative power of women at Pepperdine University. My experience from growing up in Somalia is a testament to the importance of girls’ education and the urgent need to confront the cultural norms that keep women oppressed and out of school. My team wrote a recap of my speaking engagement here. I look forward to sharing a video from this event with you as soon as it becomes available.

Despite a series of serious setbacks in 2019, the movement against FGM has not been defeated! Read here about the wins you helped make possible across the U.S. 

If you have not yet had a chance to renew your gift this year, please support our campaign Ban FGM in the U.S. by 2020. You are the force behind this movement.

Gratefully,

Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Founder