Safa: Die Rettung der kleinen Wüstenblume

by Waris Dirie

Die kleine Safa Idriss Noura aus Somalia spielt in der Verfilmung des Weltbestsellers »Wüstenblume« die dreijährige Waris Dirie. Die dramatische Szene, in der das kleine Mädchen gewaltsam beschnitten wird, bringt die Menschen in den Kinos zum Weinen. Als Waris Dirie Safa zum ersten Mal erblickt, fühlt sie sich schmerzlich an ihre eigene Kindheit erinnert. Umso größer ist Waris‘ Bestürzung, als sie erfährt, dass der Eingriff unmittelbar bevorsteht. Und sie beschließt: Dieses kleine Mädchen muss vor der Genitalverstümmelung geschützt werden. Sie tut alles, um Safa vor diesem Schicksal zu bewahren.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Djibouti, Africa, Feminism, Somalia, International

300 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Waris Dirie (Somali: Waris Diiriye, Arabic: واريس ديري‎) (born in 1965) is a Somali model, author, actress and human rights activist.

In 1997, Waris abandoned her modeling career to focus on her work against female circumcision. That same year, she was appointed UN Special Ambassador for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation(FGM).

Reviews

[That dorky lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

ಆಫ್ರಿಕಾದ ಕಠೋರ ಮರಳಗಾಡು ಪ್ರದೇಶ ಇಥಿಯೋಪಿಯಾದಿಂದ ನಸುಕಿನ ಜಾವದಲ್ಲಿ ಮನೆಬಿಟ್ಟು ನಡೆದ ವಾರಿಸ್ ಡಿರಿ ಪ್ಯಾರಿಸ್ಸಿನ ಪ್ರಖ್ಯಾತ ಮಾಡೆಲ್ ಆಗುವ, ತದನಂತರ ಧರ್ಮದ, ಸಂಪ್ರದಾಯದ ಹೆಸರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ತಾನೂ, ತನ್ನಂತೆ ಇತರ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರೂ ಬಲಿಯಾಗಿರುವ fgm (female gentle mutation) ಎನ್ನುವ ಅಮಾನುಷ ಪದ್ದತಿಯ ವಿರುದ್ದ ದನಿಯೆತ್ತುವ ಕತೆ ಹಿಂದೊಮ್ಮೆ ವಾರಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ (ಮರುಭೂಮಿಯ ಹೂ, ಜಗದೀಶ್ ಕೊಪ್ಪ ಅನುವಾದ) ಧಾರಾವಾಹಿಯಾಗಿ ಬರುವಾಗ ಓದಿದ್ದೆ, ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಚಿತ್ರಣ ಪ್ರಕಾರದಲ್ಲಿ ಇವತ್ತಿಗೂ ನನಗೆ ಅತೀ ಮೆಚ್ಚುಗೆಯ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಅದು. Saving safa ಆ ಪುಸ್ತಕದ ನಂತರದ ಭಾಗ - final conclusionನಂತಿದೆ.

ವಾರಿಸ್ fgm ಪದ್ದತಿಯನ್ನು ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ನಾಶಪಡಿಸಲು, ಅದರ ಘೋರತೆಯನ್ನು ಜನರಿಗೆ ತಲುಪಿಸುವ ಸಲುವಾಗಿ ಸಿಕ್ಕ ಯಾವ ಅವಕಾಶವನ್ನೂ ಬಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ.‌ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ದವಾಗುವ ಅವರ ಆಟೋಬಯಾಗ್ರಫಿ ಡೆಸರ್ಟ್ ಫ್ಲವರ್ ಅದೇ ಹೆಸರಿನ ಚಲನಚಿತ್ರವೂ ಆಗುವ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ ವಾರಿಸ್'ಳ ಬಾಲ್ಯಕಾಲದ ಅತಿಮುಖ್ಯ ಘಟ್ಟದ ಬರ್ಬರ ಯೋನಿಛೇದನದ ದೃಷ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಚಿತ್ರಿಸಲು ಬಾಲ ನಟಿಗಾಗಿ ಹುಡುಕುವಾಗ ಸಿಗುವ ಮಗುವೇ ಸಫಾ.

"ಒಂದು ಜೀವವನ್ನು ಉಳಿಸುವ ಕಾರ್ಯವು ಇಡೀ ಮನುಕುಲವನ್ನೇ ಉಳಿಸುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ಸಮಾನ" ಎಂದು ದೃಢವಾಗಿ ನಂಬಿ ಅದರಂತೇ
ಬದಲಾವಣೆಯ ಆರಂಭ ಬಿಂಧುವಾಗಿ ಸಫಾಳನ್ನು fgm ಎಂಬ ಅನಿಷ್ಟ ಪದ್ದತಿಯಿಂದ ರಕ್ಷಿಸಲು ಯೋಚಿಸುವ ವಾರಿಸ್ ಮತ್ತು ಅವಳ ಇಡೀ ತಂಡ ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ನಡೆಸುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಗಳು, ಸಫಾಳ ಕುಟುಂಬದಿಂದಲೇ ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ವ್ಯಕ್ತವಾಗಿವ ಅಸಹಕಾರ ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ ಸವಾಲುಗಳು, ಜೊತೆಗೇ ಇನಾಬ್ ಎಂಬ ಮತ್ತೊಬ್ಬ fgm ಸಂತ್ರಸ್ತೆಗೆ ನೆರವಾಗುವುದು, ಜಗತ್ತಿನಾದ್ಯಂತ fgmನ ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣ ನಿವಾರಣೆಗೆ ಮಾಡಲು ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಗಳು, ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಆ ಅನಿಷ್ಟ ಪದ್ಧತಿಗೆ ಒಳಗಾದ ಅಮಾಯಕ ಬಾಲೆಯರಿಗಾಗಿ ಪ್ರಾಯೋಜಿಸಬಹುದಾದ reconstructive ಸರ್ಜರಿ ಹೀಗೆ fgm ಕುರಿತು ಅನೇಕ ವಿಷಯವನ್ನೂ ವಾರಿಸ್ ಇದರಲ್ಲಿ ಉಲ್ಲೇಖಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

ಒಟ್ಟಾರೆಯಾಗಿ ಡೆಸರ್ಟ್ ಫ್ಲವರ್ ಫೌಂಡೇಶನ್ನಿನ ಆರಂಭಿಕ ಹಂತದ ದಾಖಲಾತಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಅದರ ಜೊತೆಯಲ್ಲೇ ಆಫ್ರಿಕಾದ ಬಡತನ, ಮರಳುಗಾಡಿನ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಜನಜೀವನ, ಮಾದಕದ್ರವ್ಯ ವ್ಯಸನಿಗಳಾದ ಗಂಡಸರು. ಹೊರಜಗತ್ತಿನ ಸಂಪರ್ಕವೇ ಇಲ್ಲದ, ಕಷ್ಟಕಾರ್ಪಣ್ಯ, ಕಟ್ಟುಪಾಡುಗಳನ್ನೇ ಸಹಜ ಎಂದು ಬದುಕುತ್ತಿರುವ ಹೆಂಗಸರು, ನಿರುದ್ಯೋಗ, ಹದಗೆಟ್ಟ ಆರ್ಥಿಕ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿ, ಜೀವನ ನಿರ್ವಹಣೆಗಾಗಿ, ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಸ್ಥಾನಮಾನಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಏನನ್ನೂ ಮಾಡಲು, ತಮ್ಮದೇ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಬಲಿಕೊಡಲೂ ಸಹ ಸಿದ್ದರಿರುವ ಪೋಷಕರು ಇವೆಲ್ಲವೂ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಸಮರ್ಥವಾಗಿ ಚಿತ್ರಿತವಾಗಿವೆ.

ಕನ್ನಡಕ್ಕೆ ಅನುವಾದಿಸಿರುವ ಪ್ರಸಾದ್ ನಾಯ್ಕ್'ರ ಭಾಷೆ, ತರ್ಜುಮೆ ಒಂದೆರಡು ಸಣ್ಣಪುಟ್ಟ ವಿಚಾರಗಳ ಹೊರತಾಗಿ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದೆ. ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಓದಲಡ್ಡಿಯಿಲ್ಲ .

[Sofie De Souter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Must read! Pakkend verhaal van groot maatschappelijk belang. De schrijfstijl kon me helaas niet bekoren, al leest het wel super vlot.

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

** Books 87 - 2022 **

This books to accomplish Baca Keliling Dunia and Tsundoku Books Challenge 2022

3,2 of 5 stars!

Before i read this books, i already bought and read this books Desert Flower by Waris Dirie so when i know there is another books about her and FGM issue. This books more focusing about Safa, an little girl who being casted as Waris Dirie in child version. Ms Waris being shocked when someone told her that Safa will be follow the FGM ritual. at that time she have to go to Djibouti and come to Safa's family to prevent that happen.

It is uneasy one when she have to insist that Safa not have to be follow FGM ritual. Even they already got their monthly allowances since it is the price of Safa being casted as Waris Dirie in child version. I set this books with higher expectation but it turn out i'm wrong. the book ending is kinda cliffhanger for me since i wanna know more what will happen with Safa when Waris back to europe?

Thankyou Bookdepository!

[Prashanth Bhat · Rating 4 out of 5]

ಅನುವಾದ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿದೆ.
ಡೆಸರ್ಟ್ ಫ್ಲವರ್ ಕೃತಿಯ ನಂತರದ ಭಾಗ ಎಂದೂ ಕರೆಯಬಹುದು.
ಮುದ್ರಣ ಕೂಡ ಚೆನ್ನಾಗೇ ಇದೆ‌
ವಿಷಯ ಏನೆಂದರೆ ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಬೋರಾಗುತ್ತದೆ‌.
ಕಠೋರ ಪದ್ಧತಿಯಾದ ಯೋನಿ ಛೇದನ ಕುರಿತು ತಿಳಿದ ನಂತರ ಅಷ್ಟಾಗಿ ಆಸಕ್ತಿ ಮೂಡಿಸಲ್ಲ.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very interesting and easy read, though at times the wording is slightly awkward - probably a translation issue. It told me a lot that I didn't already know about the prevailing culture in the areas where FGM is rife - I had not realised that this was a problem amongst the Kurds nor had I realised that it affected Christian groups in Africa as well as Muslim groups, though I probably should have done, as I knew that it is culturally based rather than religion based. What I found particularly interesting was the solution Waris has found to protect Safa and potentially other children like her. So many other writers on the subject of FGM are adamant that the practice must be stopped but much less clear about how we can help to stop it!

[Calzean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Safa starred in film Desert Flower and her parents agreed under contract not to circumcise her. But a few years later, pressure is mounting on them to conform. Waris Dirie and her foundation go into action to save Safa. At times the writing is a bit stilted and tedious but it has real power in describing the process of FGM, the various religions that practice it and how difficult it is to enact change in a society. It also has some scathing views of the Western Governments and the EU for their lack of action. Thank goodness for people like Waris.

[Laurence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waris Dirie did it again. De gruwelijke praktijk van vrouwelijke besnijdenis in een niet weg-te-leggen boek gegoten.Deze keer over de kleine Safa die de jonge Waris vertolkte in de verfilming van haar eerste boek. Na het lezen van dit boek opnieuw gedoneerd aan haar Foundation. Dit boek zou dan ook net als « Mijn woestijn » verplichte literatuur moeten worden op elke Europese middelbare school.

[Erin Dethick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - what another amazing book my Waris. Her passion is stronger than ever in the fight against FGM

[Gertrud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eigenlijk een documentaire in boekvorm, maar toch zeer boeiend om te lezen.

[Maxine · Rating 5 out of 5]

was a fascinating read and scary to this how FGM is still going on in a big way in the world

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An important insight into the brutality and commonality of FGM although I did find the writing grating at times. I hadn’t realised FGM was practised in Australia either.

[Anke Rademakers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, wat een boek. realiteit werd werkelijkheid. je gaat nadenken over dingen waar je normaal nooit over nadenkt. behoorlijk onder de indruk!

[Anneke Putter · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Safa, de kleine woestijnbloem” is een boek wat tot nadenken zet. De schrijfster van dit indrukwekkende boek strijd al jaren tegen Female Genital Mutilation (vrouwenbesnijdenis).
Wanneer haar boek “Mijn Woestijn” verfilmd wordt vind Waris het van het grootste belang dat de meest indrukwekkende en tot de verbeelding sprekende scene niet geschrapt wordt. De huiveringwekkende scene waarin de jonge Waris besneden wordt. Het vinden van een juiste vertolkster van deze bijzondere rol is lastig, totdat Safa ten tonele verschijnt en zij de perfecte woestijnbloem blijkt te zijn.

De ouders van Safa gaan akkoord met een overeenkomst waarin afgesproken wordt dat Safa niet besneden zal worden en de familie daarvoor financiële steun ontvangt. Na verloop van tijd blijkt de druk van de gemeenschap echter zo groot, dat de familie toch dreigt te bezwijken en Safa alsnog besneden zal worden.

Voor Waris Dirie het moment om naar Djibouti af te reizen om te proberen haar woestijnbloem te behoeden voor deze verschrikkelijke beschadiging. Tijdens deze reis maakt zij ook kennis met Inab een 18 jarig meisje welke zelf besneden is maar vecht voor haar twee zusjes. De belofte wordt gemaakt om Inab en Safa (onder begeleiding van vader Idriss) uit te nodigen voor een indrukwekkende reis naar Europa.Voor deze mensen gaat er een hele nieuwe wereld open, het wordt een ware ontdekkingsreis. Tijdens deze reis volgen er vele gesprekken over de verschillen in culturen en de noodzakelijke afschaffing van Female Genital Mutilation.

Waris Dirie weet met dit boek echt een statement te maken en vraagt hiermee ook aandacht voor haar nieuwe sponsorschap campagne. Ik zou dit boek aan iedereen willen aanraden, het leest bijzonder prettig, is leerzaam en geeft ons een kijkje in een andere cultuur. Hieruit blijkt ook maar weer eens dat de druk van een gemeenschap bijzonder groot kan zijn.

[Discoverylover · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read 'Desert Flower' by Waris Dirie years ago, and have been trying to read more non fiction, so grabbed this when I saw it at work. It was interesting finding out about what Waris has been up to since her first book (although apparently she's written a couple of others in the meantime that have flown completely under my radar), and I had no idea that a film had been made of 'Desert Flower'. I'm not sure I can say I enjoyed this book, but it was interesting, and kept me reading.

[Lynette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow, what can I say. It scares me that this is still going on in our world. Waris is doing an amazing job of getting the word out there, I just wish people would sit up and notice. Safa is such a beautiful little girl, I hate to think of these young children going through this mutilation, and that is exactly what it is.

[enyanyo · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a story! Waris Dirie is passionate about fighting fgm and she found a way to share this passion with the world. I've never read any of her books before, or even known who she was before picking up this book two days ago.
The writing could be much better; there are many clumsily worded phrases. That said, it could also be because the book was translated from French.

[Cindy M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mooi verhaal dat raakt, vlot geschreven.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good. Highly recommend.

[Louise Donnelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stop FGM www.desertflowerfoundation.org

[Siobhán Cullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This and Desert Flower are, in my opinion, must read books. People need to be educated on the barbaric nature of FGM

[mommy_and_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

„SAFA. NIE OKALECZAJCIE MNIE.”

Waris Dirie Wydawnictwo Świat Książki

Czy znacie powieść „Kwiat Pustyni”? Czy oglądaliście film pod tym samym tytułem?
W tym filmie główną postać – Waris Dirie zagrała mała dziewczynka – Safa. Pochodzi ona z biednej rodziny z Dżibuti. Przez przypadek została wybrana do tej roli. Dziewczynka nie została obrzezana. Jej rodzice podpisali specjalną umowę, w której obiecują, że tego nie zrobią. W zamian za pomoc materialną i finansową przez długie lata. Czy jednak rodzice dotrzymali słowa? Czy po kilku latach od tego wydarzenia Safa jest nadal nie obrzezana? Przeczytajcie.
Piękna książka, pokazująca nie tylko życie Safy, ale również walkę z średniowiecznym systemem. Żadna kobieta nigdy nie powinna być obrzezana. To jest barbarzyństwo. Stosując obrzezanie u kobiet odbiera im się godność. Okalecza się je do końca życia. Uświadomcie sobie, że za każdym razem, gdy obrzezana kobieta chce zrobić siku i ma okres odczuwa piekielny ból, często przy tym mdleje. I teraz pomyślcie sobie, jak się czuje obrzezana mała dziewczynka. Ona musi się z tym zmagać od najmłodszych lat. I najgorsze w tym wszystkim jest to, że często to matka zaprowadza córkę w potworne miejsce i zgadza się na to barbarzyństwo. Pomyślcie sobie teraz o seksie. Co obrzezane kobiety odczuwają podczas seksu? Mają z tego przyjemność? Często przy seksie dochodzi do zakażeń i kobiety umierają. Ból im towarzyszy przez całe życie. Chcielibyście tak?
Najgorsze, że to się dzieje również w naszych czasach. Trzeba o tym głośno mówić. Nie możemy tego przemilczeć. To jest bardzo ważny temat.
Duża część dziewczynek nie przeżywa obrzezania. Nie wykonuje się tego zabiegu w sterylnych warunkach i z czystymi narzędziami. Często używa się tępych sprzętów. Czym kobiety obrzezują? To już musicie przeczytać sami.
Waris także była obrzezana. Do teraz cierpi katusze z tego powodu. Czy wybaczyła matce?
Kobiety, które wykonują ten fatalny, tragiczny zabieg mówią, że Bóg tak chce. Myślicie, że Bóg chciałby cierpienia dziewczynek? Totalna bzdura. Niestety fanatycy wiadomej religii są ślepi.Moim zdaniem każdy kto przeprowadza obrzezanie i w nim pomaga powinien trafić do więzienia na długie lata.
W książce przeczytacie również jak fundacja „Kwiat Pustyni” walczy z tym procederem. Na końcu powieści znajdziecie informacje jak można pomóc w ratowaniu dziewczynek przed obrzezaniem.
Czytając „Safa. Nie okaleczajcie mnie.” płakałam. Powieść wciąga. Bardzo ciężki i ważny temat. Jestem przeciwko obrzezaniu kobiet a ty? Nieważne jaką wyznajesz religię – nie okaleczaj dzieci. Bóg nie chce cierpienia. Ludzie sami sobie to wymyślili. I tłumy w 2021 roku nadal za tym idą. Przykre, tragiczne i wydaje się takie nierealne, a jednak.
Przeczytajcie o tym co się dzieje. Ten proceder pewnie trwa na całym świecie.
Nie mogę przestać o tym myśleć. Jak własna matka, która również była obrzezana, przeżywająca codziennie straszne bóle może dopuścić do tego własne dzieci.

[Immie Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waris Dirie, who is well known for her efforts in raising awareness of FGM, published a book about her upbringing and experience of FGM called ‘desert flower’. Desert flower was made into a film, with Safa Nouf playing young Waris. In addition to hiring Safa, Safa’s family signs an agreement saying they will not circumcise her. This book begins with a letter from Safa, aged 7, to Waris, explaining that she is worried she will be forced to undergo FGM. The book follows Waris as she tries to save Safa from the ordeal, and aims to educate her family.

This is a bit of a different one from me, someone who almost exclusively reads thrillers, but I loved it! I’m in the midst of writing my masters dissertation on FGM at the moment, and whilst I’m loving it, it’s also very heavy! I came across this book during my research and thought I’d give it a go to a) help my understanding of the practice from someone who has endured it and b) I’d branch out into non-fiction (something I don’t read a lot of outside of uni).

It was really well written and whilst it is really hard to read at times, it’s also incredibly beautifully written. It highlights so many issues associated with FGM, and it really highlights how different their lives are to us in the Western world. Even if you don’t have a particular interest in researching the practice, I also believe it’s a story everyone should read. It might not affect you, but we all have a responsibility to protect these girls who are too young to have a voice

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saving Safa: Rescuing a Littlel Girl from FGM, by Waris Dirie, is a very readable book and an excellent title to read after reading Desert Flower, by Waris Dirie. If Desert Flower acquainted the world with the horrific practice of female genital mutilation, Saving Safa shows just how hard it is to then change the practice. The pressure amongst African peoples to continue this practice is intense. I imagine any female doing this for a living is not going to have the chance for another job to earn the cash they do from keeping this cutting alive.

I'm happy that Waris is able to impact so many young women with her foundation. I admire her for using her own personal story to inspire people to stop this practice. I admire her for putting this human rights work to impact women above being a model.

What I learned in this book is different enough from Desert Flower that I recommend you reading both of them.

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Djibouti (Africa)
Biography
Safa, aged seven, acted the part of Waris Dirie — desert nomad turned super model — in the movie about her life.
As a child, Waris was tortured with the common-and-horrific Female Genital Mutilation (leaving her in chronic pain, chronic sickness, and she will never feel pleasure from sex). She now advocates against it.
Safa’s parents signed a contract to NOT torture Safa that way, but they’re changing their minds because “It’s how we’ve always done things.”, so Safa writes to beg Waris to save her.
Waris does.

I feel very conflicted.
It’s fantastic Safa got saved! Yay!
On the other hand, educating parents about the lifelong harm they're inflicting doesn't work, so the only solution is to give Djiboutians money to not mutilate their daughters??
If it works, it works, it's just heartbreaking that people have to be bribed not to torture their kids.

[Cheryl's Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Desert Flower, so I was curious to follow the story.
Thought provoking, quick and well worth the read to raise education about this horrendous practise.

FGM short for Female genital mutilation, also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is the ritual cutting or removal of some or all of the external female genitalia. The practice is found in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and across multiple religions (Muslim, Christian, Jewish). UNICEF estimated in 2016 that 200 million women living today in 30 countries—27 African countries, Indonesia, Iraqi Kurdistan and Yemen—have undergone the procedures.

It clearly shows the need for education. Thanks to Waris Dirie and the Desert Flower foundation many girls have been saved.

[Franzipani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es ist immer wieder erschütternd, durch Waris Dirie etwas über die grausame Praxis der Beschneidung zu erfahren. Noch mehr hat es mich geschockt, dass selbst die Schauspielerin, welche Waris grausames Schicksal darstellt, von FGM bedroht ist.

Das Buch ist eine würdige Fortsetzung der Wüstenblume und liefert neben dem Schwerpunkt des Kampfs gegen FGM wertvolle Einblicke in den Alltag und die damit verbundener Gedanken von Familien, welche durch Tradition, Armut und Gesellschaftsdruck oft keinen anderen Weg als die Beschneidung ihrer Töchter sehen.

Darüber hinaus zeigt Waris Diries Roman, wie wertvoll die Arbeit der Desert Flower Foundation ist und welchen Kampf die mutigen Frauen und Mitarbeiter tagtäglich führen!

[Marian Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't put this book down!

This book follows "Desert Flower'' by Waris Dorrie. It's about the struggle to save Sala who, as a three year old girl, started in "Desert Flower," the movie. In "Saving Sala," the horror and gruesome details of FGM are described in graphic language. I have written to my state legislators asking them to introduce bills outlawing FGM in my state in USA with prison terms and education about the cruelty they have been practicing on girl children and requiring them to watch Waris's movie.

[mimo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Putting Safa at the centre of this book really humanises the issue of FGM. The reader directly hears her wishes not to be cut, and sees what she's up against in terms of social pressure. I was so frustrated with her parents at multiple points, yet their behaviour and opinions also made sense for their background.

I'm glad that they didn't just save Safa, but created the Desert Flower Foundation and made her only the first girl to be sponsored on the condition of her family not having her cut. I wonder what's become of her now, what she's had the opportunity to do with her life!

[Makenna Nyammo-Kuria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written account of how one woman is raising up others against the cultural and modern misconceptions around female genital mutilation. If you have a deep interest in family and culture, this book is a must-read.

[Katrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waris Dirie kämpft auch mit diesem Buch gegen die Beschneidung von Mädchen. Die wirbt damit für ihre Organisation Desert Flowers Foundation, die zum Ziel hat, Beschneidungen zu verhindern und bescnittenen Grauen zu helfen.