The Desert Flower Foundation, who’s mission is to end female genital mutilation continues to grow across the globe.
Before model and activist Waris Dirie graced the covers of magazines and appeared in the movies, she endured a childhood of strife and strength. Born in the region of Galkayo, in the Somali Desert, Dirie suffered the horrific procedure of female genital mutilation at the age of five. The inhumane practice still occurs in countries across the globe today, with the United Nations estimating nearly 4 million girls mutilated annually. Since 2002, Dirie has dedicated her life to completely eradicating FGM and providing education in African countries for young people.
Her foundation, The Desert Flower Foundation, began in Europe and Africa, but she has recently announced the creation of Desert Flower Foundation Americas alongside Kiera Chapline, the granddaughter of famed Charlie Chaplin. “We will raise awareness that FGM is widespread in African communities in the U.S. and Canada and we will share our successful projects in Africa, such as our Save a Little Desert Flower sponsorship project, which have contributed to a significant decline in FGM in Africa in recent years,” says Dirie.
“Education is much more than being able to read and write. Education gives people the opportunity to discover and develop their potential and to take control of their own lives.”
Chaplin is the President of The Fondation Fleur du Desert, The Desert Flower Foundation in Paris and recently opened a Desert flower school in Sierra Leone for 400 students in 2020. Education is an important part of Desert Flower’s mission. “All statistics show that the countries with the highest illiteracy rate also have the highest prevalence rate for FGM. They are all among the poorest countries in the world and also have the highest birth rates. The only sustainable way to stop FGM is to invest in education,” Dirie explains. “Education is much more than being able to read and write. Education gives people the opportunity to discover and develop their potential and to take control of their own lives.”
While Desert Flower Foundation Americas will continue to help spread the work of Dirie and raise awareness for FGM, Dirie believes the most powerful way to garner attention for the cause is through storytelling. In 1998 Dirie published her book Desert Flower into 52 languages. Her story was made into a movie in 2009, and most recently it has taken stage as a musical in 2020. “Read the book, watch the movie, see the musical. And join me in my fight to stop this crime against little innocent girls,” she says. “FGM is one of the worst forms of child abuse, but the Desert Flower family is growing, getting bigger and stronger. We will eradicate FGM together.”
