We at Global Woman P.E.A.C.E. Foundation (GWPF) wish you a Happy New Year. We look forward to working with you in 2018, together, helping to make it a productive and successful year.
In collaboration with the Outpatient Rehabilitation Center at the George Washington University (GWU) Hospital, GWPF will commence their monthly workshops this month on Saturday, the 20th. Starting on the 20th of January, each month the workshop will present a different facilitator. The facilitators will range from psychologists, OB/GYNs, nurses, physical therapists, nurses practitioners, mid-wives, and even law enforcement.
These workshops are for women who are in the process of healing, both emotionally and physically, and who wish to receive emotional support in a group setting, and/or individual sessions. During the workshops, participants can share any aspect of their stories that they wish to reveal, and will be showered with unconditional care, love and support. In addition to the monthly workshops, individual support will be available, recommended, and encouraged for those FGM survivors who might not be ready or interested in speaking before a large group.
All are welcomed from the communities in the Washington, D.C. metro area. The workshops are also intended to help educate the public about female genital mutilation. This is an opportunity for people from the community to learn about this practice of which they know little or nothing at all. Parents and teachers can become more aware of the FGM laws in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, including the FGM federal law.
The scheduled facilitators for Saturday, January 20th are Physical Therapist, Marie Jeffsell of the Outpatient Rehabilitation Center and Pelvic Program Specialist, Lauren Wohl, also of the Outpatient Rehabilitation Center at the GWU Hospital. The scheduled February facilitator is Dr. Willa Jones, a District of Columbia licensed professional counselor with over twenty years of experience. Since Dr. Jones became affiliated with GWPF more than a year ago, she has engaged herself with counseling techniques in FGM.
In the past two years, GWPF has focused mostly on sending FGM survivors for the restorative surgery. However the leaders of GWPF decided to reexamine their strategic approach to how the women heal after FGM when French Urologist, Dr. Pierre Foldes and Mrs. Frederique Martz attended their 2017 Walk To End FGM. The pair of post-FGM medical experts shared in a formal presentation that having the restorative surgery alone is pointless without pre and post-surgical counseling. They explained how crucial it is for the FGM survivors to meet with a mental health professional prior to the surgery. It is recommended that the decision to undergo restorative surgery should be that only of the survivor’s, and not that of the surgeon’s or that of the sponsor’s. Post-operative consultation is also highly recommended, which comprises of additional mental health care, gynecological follow-up visits and physical therapy.
If you wonder what role physical therapy plays in the healing life of a survivor of FGM, then make it a date on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 12:00 noon to attend the first workshop. If you have experienced FGM at some time in your life, we invite you to come out and receive the support and information you need. GWPF wants to share in and celebrate your healing growth and progress, as they provide the required post-FGM support.
For those requiring individual or one-on-one appointments, you may contact GWPF at info@globalwomanpeacefoundation.org or call (703) 818-3787. All phone calls, emails and appointments are private. Confidentiality, respect, and an abundance of understanding and unconditional acceptance are the fundamental objectives of this program. The workshop is held at 3920 Alton Place, NW in Washington, D.C. 20016 from noon until 1:00pm. They look forward to welcoming you on the 20th. Happy New Year!
Comments and questions to info@globalwomanpeacefoundation.org or call (703) 818-3787
