Hibo Wardere

When she arrived in London, Wardere sought treatment for her wounds, but received little support from the NHS. Doctors failed to ask what had happened to her, and only rarely mentioned FGM on her medical files, even when she gave birth to her children.

Wardere eventually found the answers she was looking for at the library, where she read about female mutilation in a book.^[3] Years later, when she was studying to become a teaching assistant, she opened up about her story in a homework essay.^[4] The head of staff read her work and asked her to deliver a speech to 120 teachers, during which some realised that their students might have experienced the same trauma.^[4] After reading Wardere's essay, school governor Clare Coghill booked Wardere appointments with other schools in the area.^[4] Wardere has worked as a mediator and FGM educator since then, helping young students escape FGM.^[4] She also delivers awareness raising sessions to doctors and the Police to assist in their understanding of FGM.^[5]

Her testimonies have appeared in numerous publications, including the BBC, the Guardian and the Telegraph.^[1][6] Wardere has advised that as an FGM survivor, she is aware many other women who have undergone the practice feel too ashamed to speak out about their suffering. Wardere is quoted as saying “It is a sexual abuse. It brings shame and rips women and girls of their dignity. It should be stopped".^[7]

Wardere's main ambition for the future is to see Female Genital Mutilation eradicated in her lifetime.

Her memoir, Cut, was published in April 2016.^[4]

Hibo Wardere lives with her husband Yusuf and their seven children.^{[citation needed]}