Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation (GWPF) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization established in 2010 on the principles of ending violence and injustices against women and girls. Their mission is to empower women and girls through education to help end gender-based violence, especially female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). FGM/C is the intentional removal of all or part of the external female genitalia for non-medical reasons. Through education and advocacy, they work to prevent FGM/C and provide services to help girls and women who have experienced FGM/C or are at risk of experiencing it. GWPF was partly responsible for the passing of legislation in Virginia to have FGM/C criminalized and an education mandate that all Virginia middle and high schools include the study of FGM/C in their Family Life Education curriculum. They run a monthly support group, which provides both physical and psychological support to survivors of FGM/C. They also sponsor the clitoral restorative surgery for women in their support group who desire it. Internationally, they provide scholarships for girls and boys in Liberia, West Africa, providing a choice between education and FGM/C. They also supply girls in 4 West African countries (Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, & Guinea) with sanitary pads as a mean to keep girls from missing school each month during their periods. They engage in training schoolteachers, school nurses, law enforcement, and the community about the practice of FGM/C. They hold the "Walk to End FGM" annually in the fall to raise funds to support their programs.
Working with this nonprofit has been both a learning and inspiring experience for me. What is unique about this organization is the fact that the young women and girls whom we serve regard the organization as a family on which they can count when they need help. The women refer to me as they mother, and they are really sincere about their gesture. They tell me that I have shown them more love than their own mothers, and those words are far more meaningful to me than all the money in the world. The gratitude I receive from the young women and girls is the best reward I could ever receive. Recently, they surprised me with an award, titled, "Woman of Women Award". They took me by total surprise and made me tear up. While I do not do this work for accolades, such gestures give me strength and courage to carry on with the work.