Ending FGM. Advancing rights. Building community.
Bilis Initiative was born out of a deep-seated belief that every girl in Somali communities deserves to grow up whole, protected, and empowered to reach her full potential.
Change grows from within a community.
Bilis Initiative is a community-driven organisation dedicated to ending FGM and advancing the rights, dignity, and empowerment of women and girls in Somali communities.
We listen first, centre survivor voices, and build the trust required for change that lasts across generations.
Read our story →
Survivor-centred
Lived experience guides every programme and decision.
Community-led
We work through local language, relationships, and trust.
Focused on lasting change
We address the beliefs and systems behind harmful practices.
Safe for every girl
We strengthen the support around girls at home and in school.
The values that guide us
Protection
We prioritize the safety and bodily autonomy of every girl in the communities we serve.
Dignity
We uphold the inherent rights and dignity of survivors, ensuring their voices lead our initiatives.
Transparency
We are committed to open governance and clear communication with our partners and the public.
Collaboration
We believe in the power of working together with community leaders to drive lasting change.
This work cannot wait.
FGM remains a global crisis, but every number represents a girl whose safety, health, and future can still be protected.
Girls and women living with FGM
Across more than 30 countries
Girls at risk every year
Most are under the age of 15
Prevalence in Somali Regional State
Among the highest rates globally
Acceptable cases
No benefit. No justification.
Where we work for change
Our mission spans multiple regions, working closely with Somali communities across the globe.
Somali Reginal State
Community-led behavioral change programs and policy advocacy.
Oramia Reginal State
Empowering adolescent girls through education and support networks.
Somali Reginal State
Advancing legal protections and community-led awareness initiatives.
From a small dialogue to a regional movement
What started as a single conversation in a community hall has grown into a multi-country initiative spanning the Somali Regional State and Ethiopia.
Our work has always been about more than just stopping a practice; it's about reclaiming the narrative of empowerment and dignity that has always been present in our culture.
Real change, real people
I used to think it was just what happened to all girls. Now I know my daughter has a choice — and she knows she has a voice. That is everything.
Your support protects futures.
Every gift helps fund programmes that protect girls, strengthen community leadership, and drive lasting change.
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