Restoring the ROSE

On Saturday, September 15th 2012, The Restoring the Rose Walk-a-thon, an event hosted by the Campaign Against Female Genital Mutilation to raise awareness about Female Genital Mutilation will be taking place.  The mission is to come together in solidarity and eliminate violence against women. U.S. survivors of this genital circumcision will come together to bring an end to this prevalent issue. They also intend to raise $100,000.00 for medical equipment and supplies for the first free hospital to provide treatment and genital reconstruction to survivors of Female Genital Mutilation, also known as FGM. Registration is FREE and you will receive a Restoring the Rose walk-a-thon t-shirt on the day of the event; however, in order to achieve their financial goal people must fund raise and/or donate. 

Every 16 seconds a girl is genitally mutilated; over 150 million worldwide, and 3 million every year. This event will help raise awareness on the prevalence of FGM in the United States, where there are over 300,000 reported cased of FGM. Although a federal law was passed against it in 1997, the practice continues to be prominent due to the shared values of particular cultures including, but not limited to, Africa, Asia, Europe, America and Australia. The actual process of Female Genital Mutilation is brutal, dehumanizing, excruciatingly painful, and completely violating, however it continues to occur. Ultimately this has been a “ritual” begun by men, but women also fall captive towards violating their children and grandchildren.  Through this process they de-sexualize the assumed natural urges of being promiscuous and in-turn be completely “sacred” to their future partners. Waris Dirie, a model, writer and activist who wrote a book entitled Desert Flower, wrote about her experience being a mutilated female coming to America and becoming aware of the health issues and problems of FGM. The screening will be showed as an event during the walk-a-thon.  For more information, details of the event, and location or just about the Campaign Against Female Genital Mutilation please click here:

You can find out more about the Waris Dirie and the Desert Flower foundation here
The Desert Flower movie trailer is here

Event schedule and times

9:00am - 9:45am: Registration and Team meet-up (Starting location at the promenade in Riverside Park at 83rd street and Riverside Drive)

9:45am - 10:00: Final Instructions to All Participants

10:00am - 11:00am: Walk-A-Thon

11:00am - 12:00pm: Speakers and Survivors

12:00pm - 12:15pm: Recongition and Prize presentations

12:15pm - 2:00pm: Lunch Picnic

2:30pm - 4:30pm: Movie Screening: Desert Flower