This is my story, from escaping FGM to graduating with a diploma!
My name is Rehema Gideon Mchory. I am 21 years old and have been living at one of the safe houses of Hope for Girls and Women Tanzania (HGWT) for the past 9 years.
When I was 12 years old, in the seventh grade, my father wanted me to undergo FGM (female genital mutilation). I am one of eight children, with two brothers and five sisters. My family was very poor; me getting married would have allowed my father to get some wealth.
It was during this time that a sexual educator came to my school talking about gender based violence and the effects of FGM. I was very scared after I heard this, and asked them to intervene with the village chairman so that I could be taken to a safe place. The village chairman refused because he was also a traditional elder in our community, supporting the practice of FGM. I became even more scared and asked for help from the sexual educator. He promised me that I would be safe and took me to a HGWT safe house.
I was well received at the safe house and was sent to secondary school to start Form 1 in 2016. I finished Form 4 in 2019. I wanted to go to college to study pharmacology, but there were no funds available to support my studies. I continued living at the safe house. I always prayed that there would be a way for me to continue my studies and received the good news early in 2021 that I would be receiving a sponsorship for my studies. I was so very happy!
It was not always easy, but I worked very hard. I always achieved very good marks and graduated with a Diploma in Pharmaceutical Sciences a few weeks ago. My dream is to continue my studies at the Kampala International University in Tanzania (KIUT).
I would like to thank Mama Rhobi and the team at Hope for Girls and Women Tanzania for helping girls facing challenges and violence in our community. I am also very grateful to Mama Tharien and Baba Graham, and everyone that bought Mama Tharien’s art for their generous support that allowed me to finish my diploma.
Where I am now is so different from where I started, and I always pray for God to bless and protect everyone that supported me. To everyone reading this, I humbly ask you to consider sponsoring the education of girls living in the safe house, therefore enabling them to continue their education.
Thank you all—I love you so much!
