Please join us on Zoom 7.30-9pm on Monday 10 November for the “Orange the World Hertfordshire” Campaign 2025 kick-off led by Soroptimist International St Albans and District.
Please book on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1679986778679 all are welcome!
To get our campaign off to a powerful start we will hear 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 see below for a brief biography and outline of her talk.
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 is 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 will be offered that option during the Eventbrite booking process or 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.
Soroptimists from other Clubs and non-Soroptimists are really welcome to this very special evening . We look forward to seeing you on the 10 November to kickoff our “Orange the World Hertfordshire” Campaign 2025!