TBT: Supermodel Waris Dirie Saves Girl Safa Idriss Nour

1 Shares

In Djibouti, it is believed that almost 100% of girls and women have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM)procedure.

Waris Dirie’s goal it to save innocent girls from undergoing this procedure.

Waris Dirie visits Safa Idriss Nour at her school in Djibouti.

Nour starred in a film adaptation of ‘Desert Flower’, the international bestselling by Somali model and anti-FGM activist Waris Dirie.

Waris Dirie fled at the age of 13, because her father tried to marry her to 60 year old man. Today she’s a very successful international supermodel and she bent on helping other girls dream come true. By raising awareness about the horrors of FGM

Before staring in the movie ‘Desert Flower In 2007, in which Nour played the role of a young Dirie as she undergoes FGM her parents where made to sign a contract agreeing to make her go through the ritualistic operation in reality.

Dirie’s book, Safa: The Rescue of the Little Desert Flower, gives so many evidence of the pressures within particular groups of people, where over 66,000 women are believed to have undergone FGM and 24,000 girls under 15 are believed to be at risk because of what is involved.

Giving back to the community

In her book, Dirie’s expressed how surprised she was to have received a letter from Nour, who’s parents had signed a contract 4 years before having doubt about their decision.

She went to Djibouti, Nour, just 7, told her that “Grandmother carried out lots of circumcisions in our house. The girls screamed so loudly, just like I did in the film.”

Nour’s parents admitted that the pressure for Nour to undergo FGM from the community was really weighing on them

Because the culture of cutting of a girl’s vagina is considered to be a symbol of purity, and an assurance of her faithfulness to her husband to be, They believe they have to protect girls virginity or pride.

In addition, there’s is also the bride price to be considered. if a girl has not undergone that, how loyal or faithful is she going to be to the husband, can she control her sexual desires and not cheat with another man? How pure is the girl?

The turning point, came when Dirie took Nour’s parent abroad to show them the work she’s been advocating for, they finally understood and even started to help the some of her campaigns.

The father is now trying to educated the community about why they should not let their girls undergo FGM, however, some are still not fully on aboard.

If you’re and African and you know and see how difficult it is for people to turn away from certain believes or cultures because they believe in ancestral continuation. You will understand that this FGM fight is not an easy one.

Although the case of Nour’s father was a success, trying to encourage broader behaviour change through education is not easy.

“Educating communities is very difficult as people are very stubborn and not willing to change their habits even if it is against humanity,” Dirie