The practice of Female genital mutilation is the ritual cutting or removal of some or all of the external female genitalia. This practice is often found in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and within remote communities from other countries. One Young African with a will to end this is Somalian activist and founder of the United Youth of Ireland non-governmental organization, Ifrah Ahmed. Ifrah who also founded the Ifrah Foundation was subjected to genital mutilation at the age of 8. Understanding the risk involved in this tradition, she has made it her life’s greatest pursuit to campaign against female genital mutilation and uses her resources to place interest in women’s reproductive health. The Ifrah foundation is currently preparing a National FGM Abandonment Plan in collaboration with the Somali Government to Fund and Implement a National Female Genital Mutilation and Circumcision Education and Eradication Program in Somalia.
In 2010, Ifrah established the United Youth of Ireland, a non-governmental organisation that provides support to young immigrants in their business, artistic and creative enterprises. Despite being kicked against and subjected to several backlash in her country for speaking up about issues that hitherto had been kept hidden, there is no stopping Ifrah Ahmed.
She is involved in itinerant misions geared at enlightening young girls and women about the dangers involved in mutilation. Ifrah’s contributions towards to the empowerment of women has been met with several commendations. Early this year, she was awarded with a People of the Year Award for her contributions and works.
