Am Hassan, a humble man and father of seven daughters from Kom El Mansoura village in Assiut, was initially unaware of the harmful effects of female genital mutilation (FGM).
Unfortunately, four of his daughters underwent FGM due to his lack of knowledge. After attending sessions on FGM, he gained insights into its detrimental impacts and the role of women in society. He convinced his wife not to subject their three youngest daughters to FGM, taking a stand against harmful traditions. Together, they educate their community, successfully dissuading many from subjecting their daughters to this crime.

Am Hassan, after attending these sessions, not only prevented his daughters from undergoing FGM, but also underwent personal transformation. He now advocates for more rights and choices for his daughters, encouraging their participation in household decisions. He urges others not to subject their daughters to FGM, emphasizing that it's a violation of their rights.

Inspired by sessions on positive child rearing, fathers from Upper Egypt reflected on their distant relationships due to daily struggles. Realizing the neglect of their households and societal pressures on their daughters, these sessions reshaped their perspectives.

“After the sessions, we knew we had to change.” — shared one father.

Engaging with their children, participating in household chores and discussing family decisions together were novel experiences.

“We began interacting with our children like never before. We embraced a new way of parenting” — said another participant.

Conversations with spouses led to mutual understanding and shared responsibilities.

Residents of Upper Egypt went through a powerful shift by breaking the cycle of violence in their communities. A coincidental training session triggered deep introspection in an individual, evoking memories of a childhood incident where parental discipline led to emotional wounds.

Not wanting to continue this behavior towards his family, he engaged in sessions addressing improper authority, which triggered a profound reckoning. This individual understood the pain caused by his actions on their loved ones. Committed to ending the pattern, he started replacing authoritarianism with empathy and affection.

This story is part of the "I am from Upper Egypt" campaign by Care Egypt for Development, backed by the United Nations Population Fund during the "16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence." It stands as a testament among several narratives from Upper Egypt, portraying individuals defying societal norms to safeguard their children from detrimental practices.

In Upper Egypt, a parent faced a profound inner struggle about subjecting their daughter to female genital mutilation (FGM), believing it protected her purity. However, an invitation to join discussions on FGM changed everything.

This individual underwent a personal transformation, engaging in impactful conversations with project members. Over time, they let go of their old beliefs, seeking information and active participation in awareness sessions, determined to influence others positively.

One man reflects on his past, having grown up believing that women's opinions don't matter and that defying his wife's advice made him seem more “manly.” This mentality led him to make decisions against his better judgment, fearing societal judgment.

However, after attending awareness seminars, his perception changed. He now values listening and reasoning over stubbornness, aiming to protect his daughters from harmful practices like female genital mutilation and child marriage. This initiative aims to empower men in Upper Egypt to stand against violence towards their daughters and to break societal norms that contribute to such practices.

A man's transformation began when he realized the violence that girls endure. He narrates how societal norms almost led his brother to marry their young sister off and how even his mother urged female genital mutilation for his own daughter. His perspective changed after joining discussions about violence and harmful practices against girls.

Attending awareness sessions alongside his brother made them realize the severe repercussions of FGM and child marriage. Through this CARE project's visit campaign, they convinced their mother to stop these practices, determined not to harm their daughters.

A father's perspective changed after attending sessions that discussed the importance of non-materialistic involvement within the family. He realized the need to spend quality time with his children, engaging in conversations and respecting their opinions. He learned about the fallacies surrounding practices like female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage. Through discussions and newfound knowledge, he now advocates for his children's freedom and happiness.