By Nicole Williams
SPRINGVALE’S Faduma Salah Musse has dedicated her life to the campaign against female genital mutilation and was awarded for her efforts in December.
The Springvale resident received a Victorian Multicultural Commission Ambassador Award recognising her contributions to the Somali community in Victoria and her home country.
Ms Musse immigrated to Melbourne after fleeing war in Somaliland in 1995, and now uses her position at Southern Health’s Family and Reproductive Rights Education Program (FARREP) to raise the issues of female genital mutilation in the community.
“Some cultures consider it a purification ritual. I am a victim myself and I was forced to allow my three daughters to go through it also,” she said. “My role at FARREP allows me to have a real impact on the local community. Melbourne is very multicultural, so I work to raise awareness of the issue in the local community.”
Last year, the 51-year-old organised a shipping container of donations to be transported to Erigavo in Somaliland – her hometown – thanks to the contributions of Southern Health and the community.
She personally escorted the container through rough terrain and stayed for one month to distribute the goods to families in need.
“My role (at Southern Health) has allowed me to help people in Somaliland, as I was able to fill a shipping container with vital supplies that we can sometimes take for granted in Australia,” she said. “While I was there I took the opportunity to lobby government officials, countless couples, the police and also practitioners of female genital mutilation.”
“It was a challenging journey, but there were encouraging signs also.”
