Bishara
What does life as a woman or girl look like in your part of the world? What roles do women play in your society?
To be a girl or a woman is very important in our society, and every woman has their own duty to perform. The role of a woman is to take care of her own personal life and, if she is a mother, she has to take care of her children´s life and her husband too.
What do you think is the most significant occurrence in the women empowerment movement and/or gender equality today?
Encouraging women that they have the power and ability to live their lives in the way they wish, and in allowing women to do so whatever they want. Women are also allowed to achieve all their goals through whatever means they wish, through working in whichever profession they desire, or even staying at home, if that is what they want.
OK, tell us all about yourself. Who are YOU & what should the world know about you?
I am Bishara Hamo from the Northern part of Kenya. I'm from a humble background. I'm a survivor, a warrior, a female genital mutilation champion, an activist, and a staff member of Kenya Ports Authority. I want to be remembered as someone who made the world a better place, to fight for the right of a girl child, to fight for their rights; to stop female genital mutilation, early marriages, rape cases, early pregnancies, school dropouts. I want to see a world without gender-based violence. I want to see a world where all girls and women reach their potential. I want them to remember that I cared and I believed in them.
Describe yourself in one word: "I am... passionate (about my work).
What are you most passionate about and what are you doing with that passion?
I am really passionate about the way people think that female circumcision is cultural and I want to change their mind through education and campaigns to create awareness. I am extremely passionate about my work.
What are some of the most notable events (milestones) that have happened in your life to date?
I survived with a urinary problem for 13 years. I got a urine blockage that was caused by female genital mutilation. I underwent a Stage 2 which is called (excision) but later on, I performed a procedure called urinary dilation & bladder washout to correct my bladder when I was 24 years old.
What obstacles have you faced and overcome?
Initially, I suffered a migraine, I had a weak bladder and my bladder always felt full even after I peed. I felt like I couldn’t control my urine, feeling the need to urinate after pee. Because my urine passage was sliced off during that time of circumcision, I had menstrual irregularities -period incontinence, sometimes for two to three days and sometimes are more than 11 days or I missed it completely for like one or two months. I also had an uncontrollable white discharge. After I underwent a successful operation, I gathered my courage to stand for my community and fight against female circumcision and girl child violation.
Looking externally into the public sphere, what female public figure inspires you the most to achieve your dreams & why?
I came across Hibo Wardere's article and she inspires me the most - she is also a survivor. Janet Mbugua also - she is a very inspiring sister.
What's your definition of success? Loving what I do and how I do it.
How have the women and girls around you helped you to get to where you are today?
They encourage me & supported what I did and also told me, ‘Bishara, this is your time to show courage and face the world to represent the voice of voiceless’.
Complete this sentence: "To be a girl or woman today, is to be..." free from any act of gender-based violence