My name is Hemeda, I am 17 years old, and I come from Adali, a small isolated village in the Tadjourah region. I was only 7 years old when my life changed forever. That day, I underwent infibulation. I still remember the unbearable pain, my muffled screams, and the feeling of injustice… I was just a child, and a part of my innocence was taken from me.

Growing up with this wound has not been easy. School is far away, healthcare is scarce, and traditions weigh heavily on our lives. Many girls like me do not have the right to say “no.” We suffer in silence because that is what society expects. But deep inside me, a voice told me that I had to speak out, that I had to fight so that other young girls would not have to go through what I experienced.

It is thanks to the Adali Community Health Mutual, established with the support of UNFPA, that I found my strength. The mutual brings healthcare closer to rural communities, promotes gender equality, and supports women in exercising their rights. In my village, it helps women access health services, accompanies mothers to safe deliveries at health centers, and organizes awareness activities against female genital mutilation.

Today, I am no longer just a survivor. I have become an agent of change in my community. I accompany pregnant women to the health center, I participate in awareness sessions organized by the mutual, and I share my story to open families’ eyes. It is not easy: some criticize me, others say I am betraying our traditions. But I continue, because I know my voice can save other girls.

I dream of a future where, in villages like mine, girls can grow up free, go to school, give birth safely, and live without the fear of female genital mutilation. I am 17 years old today, and despite my young age, I have chosen to stand up to defend others.

My name is Hemeda, and I am living proof that a girl, even from the most remote village, can become a light of change through community solidarity and the support of UNFPA.