The “Orange the World Hertfordshire” Campaign 2025 led by Soroptimist International St Albans and District had a powerful kick-off on Mon 10 Nov when we heard from the inspirational Hoda M. Ali, Co-founder of The Vavengers – The Vavengers is a UK-based charity committed to ending Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) and all other forms of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) https://thevavengers.co.uk/. Please scroll down for a brief biography and outline of her amazing talk.
The event was recorded – so please click here to watch/listen https://youtu.be/U5EZuSdRLQk
After Soroptimist “Orange the World” Campaign lead Denise Powell welcomed everyone to the event Hoda took her audience through a questionnaire about FGM – you can download it here: Questionnaire about FGM
Hoda’s slides are available to download and view as a PDF here: FGMC Awareness session 2025
Hoda M. Ali delivered a comprehensive presentation on female genital mutilation and cutting (FGM/C), covering its historical origins, global prevalence, and legal context in the UK. Hoda shared her personal experiences as a survivor and discussed the medical aspects, health risks, and cultural factors surrounding FGM/C, emphasising its status as a form of child abuse and child neglect. The conversation ended with highlighting the importance of education, awareness, and legal action in combating FGM worldwide. Please watch/listen to the presentation on Youtube or download and go though the slides (links above) – the information is very easy to follow.
There is also a text summary from the Zoom available to read here: Summary 10 Nov FGM Presentation Hoda M. Ali
Everyone who attended was blown away by the warmth and passion of this powerful and pragmatic woman. She is truly amazing.
We ran out of time to hear this speech (see below) written by a year 6 boy an hour after Hoda had delivered the FGM lesson in his class:
Between Tuesday 25 November and Wednesday 10 December, Soroptimists join the United Nations “Orange The World” campaign – “16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women”. As a bright and optimistic colour, orange represents a future free from violence against women and girls. Click here for more about the 2025 campaign: https://sigbi.org/st-albans/orange25/
Please watch this 2 minute “Orange the World” video from last year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGCeu7NQCe8
Speaker Bio
Hoda M. Ali is a campaigner, educator, and advocate dedicated to ending female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and tackling gender-based violence. She first came into the public eye through Channel 4’s BAFTA-nominated documentary The Cruel Cut and has since continued to raise awareness nationally and internationally.
Hoda has worked in the NHS training medical students on FGM, and for the past seven years she has focused on primary education, delivering pioneering sessions on FGM to children from Years 3 to 6, as well as engaging with parents and school staff. She is also involved in global advocacy, collaborating with communities and policymakers to end harmful practices and promote women’s health and rights.
Hoda’s work is rooted in her personal journey and her belief in education as a powerful tool for prevention, empowerment, and change.
Talk Outline
Title: Breaking the Silence: Education and Action to End Gender-Based Violence
1. Introduction & Personal Journey
- Brief background and lived experience
- Why speaking out matters
2. Understanding Gender-Based Violence & FGM
- What FGM is, myths vs. realities
- Connections between FGM and wider forms of gender-based violence
3. The Role of Education
- How children, parents, and schools can be empowered
- Preventative education in primary schools
- Building safe spaces for discussion
4. Community & Global Perspectives
- Lessons learned from working with diverse communities
- Importance of advocacy and collaboration
5. Call to Action
- What we can all do during the 16 Days and beyond
- The power of allyship, awareness, and persistence
6. Q&A / Discussion
- Inviting dialogue and shared reflections
There was no charge for this special event but should you wish to make a donation to Hoda’s charity, The Vavengers https://thevavengers.co.uk/ you can donate via the Donate page on this website: https://sigbi.org/st-albans/donate/. Please understand that there is no pressure to do this.
“Orange the World Hertfordshire” Campaign 2025 has begun!