Desert Flower MAGAZINE

DESERT FLOWER
MAGAZINE
Editorial
Dear Desert Flower Family,
dear Supporters!
When we founded the Desert Flower Foundation in 2002, only a few people
knew about female genital mutilation (FGM). By 2020, the whole world will know
about this cruel crime against innocent little girls and women.
In 2002 only four African countries had a law against female genital mutilation.
In 2020, only four African countries have NO law against female genital
mutilation. As of 2002, the prevalence rate of FGM among girls under 14 years
was still 71.4 percent in East Africa and as high as 73.6 percent in West Africa.
According to the renowned British Medical Journal, the prevalence rate of FGM
among girls under 14 years of age in 2020 is estimated to be 8 percent in East
Africa and 25.3 percent in West Africa.
We launched our sponsorship project "Save a Little Desert Flower" in 2014, and
since then we have been able to protect 1,207 girls from FGM in Sierra Leone in
West Africa alone and to provide them with an education.
In 2019 and 2020, we built three Desert Flower Schools in Sierra Leone for a
total of 1,200 children. As Nelson Mandela said: "Education is the most powerful
weapon you can use to change the world.” We take Nelson Mandela at his word.
In my opinion, education is the only effective method to eradicate FGM once and
for all!
We have already achieved a lot together, but we have not yet won the battle.
We still want to achieve:
The total eradication of FGM worldwide!
School education for all children in Africa!
Sex education in all schools in Africa!
The social equality of men and women in Africa!
Competent, holistic treatment for women affected by FGM in all hospitals!
Giving up is not an option for me. Never!
Love & Peace,
Waris Dirie
You are holding THE MAGAZINE of the Desert Flower Foundation in your hands.
With the current issue, we would like to give you an overview of our work,
projects and campaigns, but at the same time, we would like to raise your awareness
for our fight against FGM. Take a look at our Desert Flower Magazine and
enjoy the wonderful successes we have already achieved thanks to your great
support!
IMPRINT
Holder:
Desert Flower Media GmbH,
Ungargasse 24/6, A-1030 Wien
E-Mail:
office@desertflowerfoundation.org
Website:
www.desertflowerfoundation.org
Management:
Walter Lutschinger
Editors:
Walter Unterweger (Editor-in-Chief),
David Lutschinger,
Joanna Jasik
Photographers:
Rankin,
Lisi Niesner,
Andreas J. Etter,
Andoni Lopez,
Anna-Tina Eberhard
Production & Layout:
TNT
Picture editing:
Arbër Kolonja
Publication: According to § 25 Mediengesetz
desertflowerfoundation.org/Offenlegung.
The Desert Flower Magazine reports on the
international projects, campaigns and activities
of the Desert Flower Foundation.
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Success: Education
4
instead of Circumcision
How the construction of our
Werner Holzer School stopped the
cruel practice of FGM in Allen Town.
Charlie Chaplins Grand-
8
daughter Opens School
Model & actress Kiera Chaplin
takes over patronage of our
Desert Flower School.
14
She moved millions of viewers to
tears in "Desert Flower" and was initial
spark for a sponsorship project.
Safa and her Wonderful
Rescue of FGM
16
In Sierra Leone we have saved
1,000 girls from FGM. But we want
to achieve much more.
New Campaign: Now
we Save 8,000 Girls
?
Contents
What a Wonderful
6
Mother's Day Gift
Rotary-Club Heidenheim-Giengen
finances with charity event
another school in Sierra Leone.
One Million Desert Flower
12
Education Boxes for Africa
Education offensive: Distribution
of our education boxes brings
smiles to children's faces.
The cover:
The cover shows Waris Dirie, human rights activist and
founder of the Desert Flower Foundation, photographed by
British star photographer Rankin. In the background are
portraits of some of the sponsored girls whom we saved
from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The empty spaces
symbolise free places for more Desert Flowers.
18 to Wüstenblume
Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen on the
secret to success and composing the
musical Wüstenblume.
From "99 Luftballons"
20 for FGM Victims
First holistic care for women
affected by FGM; Dr. Cornelia Strunz
gives them back quality of life.
Desert Flower Center
22
A Catholic Priest
Father Peter Konteh on directing the
Desert Flower Foundation Africa, and
managing schools in Sierra Leone.
Fights against FGM
24 Star Photographer
Cooperation with the luxury lingerie
label Coco de Mer is making headlines,
plus interview with Rankin.
Top Campaign with
26
Waris Dirie collaborates with Mey
and Vivobarefoot and supports
women in Ethiopia.
Initiative: Together
for African women
28
After book and film, now on stage
with a new musical, Wüstenblume,
encourages girls and women.
Standing Ovation for
Musical Wüstenblume
30
How supermodel Waris Dirie uses
fame and publicity for her
worldwide fight against FGM.
Celebrity Supporters:
Politics, Business, Showbiz
2 3

DESERT FLOWER
EDUCATION
WERNER HOLZER SCHOOL
The Success Story:
Education Stops FGM
A flagship project. How our
school construction in Sierra Leone
led to a complete rethink in the community.
Werner Holzer children, we are
the best of all!", chant 400
children along the balustrade
of the new school building. The
lead singer is Michael Bangura,
who uses a megaphone to keep
the kids performing at their best.
He is also the one who manages
the supervision of the construction
of the second Desert Flower
School in Allen Town - it is called
the Werner Holzer School.
In honour. The story behind it
all: Waris Dirie met German top
manager Philip Holzer during
a keynote speech to business
leaders in Berlin. He worked for
22 years in a leading position at
the multinational investment
bank Goldman Sachs and is head
of the supervisory board of the
German Bundesliga football club
Eintracht Frankfurt. Philip Holzer
was so enthusiastic about
the work of the Foundation that
he spontaneously financed the
construction of a school in Sierra
Leone, West Africa. The only requirement:
The school should be
named in honour of his father.
Werner Holzer (†2016) was
editor-in-chief of the Frankfurter
Rundschau and one of the
most prominent journalists in
Germany. The black continent
and its people were always very
Since the
school was
founded,
FGM has
decreased
in the
community!
Michael Bangura,
Werner Holzer school
close to his heart, he was one
of the most renowned German
experts on Africa.
Gratitude. "We are very grateful
to the Holzer family. Since
the school was founded, many
things have changed for the
better in our community", Michael
Bangura says. "The majority of
the people here can neither read
nor write. Through the school
project and the educational work
in the run-up to the school, the
people have accepted that the
Desert Flower Foundation fights
against FGM and in return supports
girls in their education."
Then a smile flits across his
friendly face. In the background,
the children once again cheer:
"Werner Holzer children, we are
the best of all!"
The youngest
students in their new
school uniforms..
These girls are very happy about their new school in Allen Town.
Our new
Werner Holzer school
in Allen Town,
Sierra Leone.
PHILIP HOLZER
ABOUT HIS MOTIVES:
"Africa
was very
dear to my father"
Interview on sustainability, school education
instead of mutilation and the hope for imitation.
Desert Flower Foundation:
How did the
idea of naming the
school in Allen Town
after your father
Werner Holzer come
about?
»Philip Holzer: The
naming gave me and
my family the unique
opportunity to honour
my father's achievements
as an Africa
expert, which I am
very happy about.
The black continent
and its people were very close to
my father's heart. I am sure that he
would have willingly supported the
project in order to contribute to the
improvement of the African conditions,
which he has been involved in
for decades.
Desert Flower Foundation: How important
is it to you to provide sustainable
support?
»Philip Holzer: The Desert Flower
Foundation uses education as a
central medium in its fight against
genital mutilation. I am convinced
that education is the key to giving
children and young people in Africa
a perspective and a better future.
Especially in such a project like
Top manager Philip Holzer
financed our school.
Name giver
of the school:
Werner Holzer.
the construction of a
school, it is important
to ensure that it will
continue to operate for
many years, so that the
population does not fall
back into old habits. I
usually accompany my
projects on a long-term
basis in order to see
how the investments
made really pay off.
Desert Flower Foundation:
Do you hope
that your project will
also make its mark in
other communities?
»Philip Holzer: The response to the
project in the region around the
Werner Holzer School is outstanding.
It would be nice if the approach
"school education instead of genital
mutilation" would find resonance in
other communities in Sierra Leone.
Desert Flower Foundation/Lisi Niesner, privat
You can donate here!
With a general
donation you
support our
educational projects
for children in Africa.
4 5

DESERT FLOWER
EDUCATION
The building shell is in place, the roof is also
finished. The main block will house a total of
six classrooms.
A Desert Flower
School for Mother's Day
Strong
signal.
With the net
proceeds of
a memorable
charity event
on Mother's
Day 2019, the
third Desert
Flower school
will be realized
in Sierra
Leone.
6
ROTARY CLUB HEIDENHEIM
he story begins in "Heidenheim
an der Brenz" in the
T
eastern part of Baden-Württemberg,
Germany, and finds a happy
ending in Tombo, a fishing village
on the Atlantic coast in Sierra
Leone, West Africa.
It's May 12th, 2019 - Mother's
Day! A very special day for Waris
Dirie and the Desert Flower
family. When she enters the
stage in the ballroom of the
Congress Centre, thunderous
applause breaks out. Young
people from the New Chamber
Choir of the Schiller-Gymnasium
Heidenheim have lined up in
the background. The choir had
prepared the guests for the
evening with an impressive performance.
Waris joins with Father
Peter Konteh the young people
and they start dancing together.
Tonight, there is plenty to celebrate.
Fundraising event. The Rotary
Club Heidenbeim-Giengen has
collected more than 50,000
euros for the Desert Flower
A MEMORABLE EVENING
Cheers for Waris Dirie
at Benefit Event
This lovely snapshot was
taken before the Coronavirus
crisis: Young people from
the New Chamber Choir of the
Schiller-Gymnasium Heidenheim
(GER) surround Waris
Dirie on the festival stage and
stretch out their hands to her
with enthusiasm.
A very special moment at
the Desert Flower Foundation
benefit event organized by the
Heidenheim-Giengen Rotary
Club.
Rotary-Club Heidenheim-Giengen, Desert Flower Foundation/Lisi Niesner, privat
Foundation with its fundraising
event. Thanks to this support by
the Rotarians it was possible to
build another school for 400
children in Sierra Leone: the
Rotary Club Heidenheim Desert
Flower school in Tombo.
Major education offensive. It is the
third school project implemented
by the Desert Flower Foundation
as part of the major educational
initiative for Africa's children in
Sierra Leone. Tombo is located
50 kilometres southeast of the
capital Freetown. The life of the
people there is characterised by
the daily fight against hunger and
poverty. The majority of them
can neither read nor write.
As in the other two locations of
the Desert Flower schools, sensitive
awareness raising work had
been carried out among the population.
In Tombo, too, the community
finally had to commit itself
to prohibiting female genital
mutilation (FGM) and the forced
marriage of children. The Desert
Flower Foundation requires any
We
want to
improve
the living
conditions
of women
on site!
Hans-Günter Sturm,
Rotary Club Heidenheim
community we support to commit
to these practices.
Retraining of circumcisers. The
Desert Flower Foundation does
not leave the circumcisers who
have earned their living from
this cruel work to their fate.
Retraining programmes designed
to provide the women with a new
source of income come into effect
when the new Rotary Club
Heidenheim-Giengen School is
opened.
The ground-breaking ceremony in Tombo. The future students of
the new school stand by.
INTERVIEW:
"Our aim is
to provide
sustainable
help"
Desert Flower Foundation:
How did support
for the Desert
Flower Foundation
come about?
»Hans-Günter Sturm:
For 10 years now, our
Rotary Club with the
New Chamber Choir
Heidenheim has been
organising a benefit
concert once a year. For the concert
on Mother's Day 2019 we wanted
to present a fundraising project for
mothers and came across female
genital mutilation. After a short
research we were convinced that
Waris Dirie and her foundation was
exactly the organisation we were
looking for to support.
Desert Flower Foundation: A basic
requirement for the construction
of the school was that the
community end FGM. Do you
hope to set an example for other
communities?
»Hans-Günter Sturm: Yes, we had
made our donation dependent on
the condition that the community
commits itself to ending FGM and
that this commitment is monitored
locally by the foundation. This is
the only way to achieve our goal of
sustainability, which will improve
the living conditions of the women
in Tombo.
Hans-Günter Sturm
from the Rotary Club
Heidenheim-Giengen.
Donate education!
With a general
donation, you
support our
educational projects
for Africa's children.
7

DESERT FLOWER
EDUCATION
Kiera Chaplin in front of the painting of her
famous grandfather (left) and in
front of the newly opened
Desert Flower school.
Kiera surrounded
by students of the
Kiera Chaplin
Desert Flower
School.
KIERA CHAPLIN IN SIERRA LEONE
Charlie Chaplin's
Granddaughter
Opens our School
Kiera Chaplin helps the poorest of the poor. The granddaughter of
Charlie Chaplin is the patron of our Desert Flower school for 400 students.
January 10th, 2020 will be
forever linked to the story
of the Desert Flower Foundation.
This Friday, the whole
community of River Number
2 in Sierra Leone, West Africa,
was on its feet. The opening of
the first Kiera Chaplin Desert
Flower School, 30 kilometers
south of the capital Freetown,
turned into a big party. A very
memorable highlight of the festive
ceremony: Female circumcisers
of the community laid down
their brutal work in a ritual.
FGM stopped. The crime of female
genital mutilation (FGM)
on little girls was history in
River Number 2. This was one
of the main requirements for
the Desert Flower Foundation
to build and open the school
there. From now on, 400 children,
most of whom had previously
worked in a quarry, will have the
opportunity to receive an
school education. Education is
the key to ending FGM in Africa.
The Desert Flower Foundation
was able to win over a
prominent fellow campaigner for
the first Desert Flower school in
Sierra Leone. Kiera Chaplin,
model, actress, singer and granddaughter
of the unforgettable
Charlie Chaplin and great-granddaughter
of Nobel Prize winner for
literature, Eugene O'Neill, has
taken on the patronage of the
school. She met Waris Dirie at
8 9

DESERT FLOWER
EDUCATION
Girls in the
official school
uniform of the
Kiera Chaplin
Desert Flower
School.
Dance performance of students
at the festive opening
ceremony.
The students march into the grounds of
the new Desert Flower school.
an event in Berlin. "It was through
Waris that I really became aware
of the extreme poverty and great
injustice that prevails in Africa.
I did not have to think long
before I decided to get involved
with the Desert Flower Foundation,"
Kiera remembers.
New life task. In this function
and as president of the Fondation
Fleur du Désert, the Desert
Flower Foundation in France, Kiera
Chaplin will be increasingly
involved in our charity work. She
has found a new passion.
"It is our duty to help
those who are less fortunate than
us", says Kiera. "It was a very
touching moment when I was
finally able to fulfil my dream
of a better world by opening
this school in Sierra Leone. The
children who live there now
have a perspective and can get
a school education. Until now,
there has been no school in the
community for miles around. The
life of the children will change
positively, the children have the
chance for a self-determined life."
The Kiera Chaplin Desert
Flower School in River Number
2 is a primary school for children
between the ages of six and
twelve. 20 teachers take care of
their education. Kiera Chaplin:
"This school is just the beginning
of many other aid projects."
Desert Flower Foundation/Lisi Niesner
Moving moment:
Kiera Chaplin opens
the school together
with Sierra Leone's
Minister Emily
Kadiatu Gogra and
Mohamed Haji-
Kella (left) and with
Father Peter Konteh.
KIERA CHAPLIN IS CONVINCED:
"Charlie Chaplin is
our guardian angel"
Interview on her new mission, her commitment in
Sierra Leone and her world-famous grandfather. It is
Desert Flower Foundation: Kiera,
how did the collaboration with
Waris Diries Desert Flower
Foundation come about? What
were your personal motivations?
»Kiera Chaplin: I met Waris at an
event in Berlin. She is such a strong
woman and her life story is very
fascinating. She is such a positive
person and she radiates so much
energy. Waris really made me aware
of the extreme poverty and the
great injustice that prevails in
certain African countries. So I did
not have to think long before I decided
to get involved.
Desert Flower Foundation: What
made you decide to open a school
for 400 children in Africa?
»Kiera Chaplin: Africa suffers from
an education shortage. 34 percent
of the 1.2 billion Africans can neither
read nor write. Women and
girls are the most affected.
Desert Flower Foundation: And why
Sierra Leone?
»Kiera Chaplin: Sierra Leone is one of
the poorest countries in the world
with one of the highest illiteracy
rates of all. 70 percent of the children
in Sierra Leone do not attend
school. The consequences of the
terrible civil war that raged for over
a decade and the Ebola epidemic
are still being felt throughout the
country. I think it is simply our duty
to help those who are less fortunate
than we are. I am extremely happy
our duty to
help those
who are
less
fortunate
than we
are!
Kiera Chaplin
on her mission
to be able to make a contribution to
a better world.
Desert Flower Foundation: What
can you actually achieve with a
school?
»Kiera Chaplin: Those who want
to help Africa sustainably,
those who want to do something
against the growing poverty, the
escalating population explosion and
the unfortunately still widespread
female genital mutilation must
invest in education.
Desert Flower Foundation: Your
grandfather Charlie Chaplin is
portrayed on the outside wall of
the school building.
»Kiera Chaplin: My grandfather
himself had a difficult childhood in
London. Education was always very
important to him. I like to think of
him as my guardian angel, and I
know that he is also the guardian
angel of the students at our school
in Sierra Leone.
Video of shool opening!
Scan QR code with
mobile phone
camera and watch
the video of the
school opening.
10 11

DESERT FLOWER
EDUCATION
Waris Dirie's first reading and
exercise booklet "My Africa -
The Journey" is used in lessons
at Sierra Leone's schools.
Students of the
Kiera Chaplin Desert
Flower School also
received the
educational boxes.
This is inside the
Education Box
he Desert Flower education box contains a reading
T and exercise booklet, set of pencils, wooden ruler,
sharpener and school bag.
Lack of school material. What we take for granted
makes the difference in Africa. And changes the
everyday school life of the children. Because only one
in 30 school children owns a school book in Africa.
Students in
Sierra Leone
with reading
and exercise
booklet from
the Desert
Flower
education box.
Those
who really
want to
help women
and girls in
Africa must
invest in
education!
Waris Dirie on
her education offensive
SUCCESSFUL START OF
OUR INITIATIVE
1 Million School
Books for Africa
Desert Flower education boxes. In Africa, 30 school
children share one reading book. There is a lack of
writing materials everywhere. We are fighting this.
t is a vicious circle! Almost
I all statistics of UNESCO and
the World Health Organization
(WHO) show that Africa's
countries with the highest
number of illiterates also have
the highest incidence of female
genital mutilation (FGM). Poverty
and population explosion further
worsen the sad situation.
Education in Africa. As early as
2016, Waris Dirie and her team
decided to make education in
Africa a focus of their work. The
distribution of the Desert Flower
education boxes plays a major
role in this. In 2019, 10,062 education
boxes were distributed
to 5,692 girls and 4,370 boys in
19 schools in Sierra Leone, West
Africa with the generous support
of the Women's World Day of
Prayer.
A donation of just 10 euros supplies
an education box containing
reading and exercise booklets,
pencils, sharpeners, wooden rulers
and school bags. What may
seem little makes a big difference
for the children in Africa.
According to UNESCO, 30 school
children in Africa have to share
one reading book. Many public
primary schools lack textbooks
and writing materials. As a result,
many pupils cannot read or write
even after several years of school
attendance. We are fighting
against this unfortunate situation
with our initiative.
"My Africa - The Journey". The
reading and exercise booklet of
the Desert Flower education
box is based on Waris Dirie's
first reading book "My Africa -
The Journey". The book tells the
story of young Desert Flower
Waris, who sets off on an adventure
trip with her brother Mo to
discover their home continent
Africa. On an exciting journey
they get to know the impressive
animal and plant world of Africa.
The book also contains simple
exercises to help the children
learn to read and write.
Donate
Education
Boxes!
he big distribution campaign
T of Desert Flower education
boxes has started in Sierra Leone.
With 70.10 percent illiterate (population
over 14 years of age), the
state has the third highest number
worldwide after Niger (79.60 %)
and Burkina Faso (71.30 %).
One million. The aim of our campaign
is to give one million children
in Africa their first Desert Flower
education box and opens the door
to them to have a better and more
self-determined future.
You can donate here!
You would like to
donate education
boxes to children
in Africa? Scan QR
Code and open link.
12 13

DESERT FLOWER
INSIDE
Scenery from the film
Desert Flower: The
three-year-old Safa
with her film mother
on the way to her cruel
genital circumcision.
Safa (r.) with
Waris Dirie at
school in Djibouti.
Like all our saved Desert
Flowers, Safa is getting a health
check. Here with pediatrician
Emma Acina.
The story of
Safa went
around the
world: US
channel CNN
reported
and raised
awareness of
Waris Dirie's
worldwide fight
against FGM.
British soulpop
singer Joss
Stone was so
moved by
Safa's story
that she visited
her in Djibouti.
DESERT FLOWER, THE FILM WONDER
How we saved
Safa, the Little
Desert Flower
The film Desert Flower. Safa played little Waris
Dirie in the circumcision scene and moved the
world to tears. But the film also saved her life!
he simulated violent female
T circumcision in the movie
Desert Flower shocked the
whole world and made the
cinema audience cry. The scene
is still extremely disturbing
today, the practice itself cruel
and against every human right.
But the film sequence is also very
closely connected to the wonderful
rescue of Safa from Djibouti.
Audition. Safa Idriss Noura from
Balbala, a shanty town, played
little Waris Dirie in the movie.
"We noticed her immediately at
the auditions," Dirie remembers
today. "A beautiful three-yearold
girl. It soon became clear that
she was the one who was to play
me in the film." Later it turned
out that Safa's parents wanted to
have her cut with the film fee in
real life. "When I found out, I was
horrified, shocked, stunned, but
also really angry," Dirie says.
The deal. A contract was
signed between Safa's parents
and the Desert Flower Foundation,
which is still valid. The deal:
no genital mutilation and no
forced marriage for Safa. In
return, school attendance is
paid for her and the family is
provided with water and food every
month.
Safa's rescue from FGM led
to the establishment of the
sponsorship programme "Save a
Little Desert Flower" in 2014. This
initiative saved thousands of girls
from the torture of FGM.
And Safa? She still lives with
My
biggest
dream
is to
become
an actress
or a doctor!
Safa Idriss Noura on
her plans for the future
her family in Djibouti, attends the
Lycee Francais school and has big
plans for the future.
"Sometimes people ask me
what Waris Dirie and I have
in common. Then I always answer
that I am proud to have
played little Waris in the
movie", Safa reveals. "My big
dream is to become an actress
or a doctor. I will give everything
so that I can achieve that. That is
why it is so important for me to
be able to go to school and learn.
I'm very grateful for that. Because
where I live, it is not common that
girls are allowed to go to school."
Save Desert Flowers!
Scan the QR code
with your mobile
phone camera and
become a Desert
Flower sponsor.
14 15

DESERT FLOWER
INSIDE
During her last
visit to Sierra
Leone, Waris Dirie
was celebrated
like a heroine in
the streets of Allen
Town.
Waris Dirie
struggles with her
emotions: Girls
at risk of FGM are
handed over to the
care of the Desert
Flower Foundation.
Waris always feels most
comfortable with her students
and sponsored girls.
Now We Are
Saving 8,000 Girls
Initiative. In Sierra Leone alone, the Desert Flower
Foundation has saved over 1000 girls from FGM.
That is not enough! A new campaign now aims
to save 8,000 girls from this torture.
When Waris Dirie was in Sierra
Leone in December 2019 to
see for herself the construction
progress of the first three Desert
Flower Schools, she was greeted
like a heroine at the airport.
During her visit to Allen Town,
where today the Werner
Holzer Desert Flower School is
located, the whole community
was on its feet. To the sound of
drums, a convoy of people, led by
Waris, marched through the
streets singing and dancing. The
same drum sounds usually only
THIS IS OUR NEW FGM CAMPAIGN
FGM is
certainly
one of the
worst
types
of child
abuse.
Waris Dirie on
her fight against FGM
Grateful: For Sierra Leone's people,
Waris Dirie is "A true champion".
resound when the next female
genital circumcision is about to
take place.
FGM terminated. But this time
everything was different. Although
more than 30 little girls
in their white dresses and white
face painting had already been
prepared for the inhuman ritual,
but instead of their genitals being
mutilated, the 20 circumcisers
handed them over into the care
of the Desert Flower Foundation.
This was an act with strong
symbolic power. The traditional
circumcisers of Allen Town
belong to the influential, secret
Bondo Society. They have now
stopped this extremely cruel and
life changing practice.
New campaign. A great success,
which was preceded by months
of educational work by the Desert
Flower Founation. With the
construction of three Desert
Flower Schools, but above all
with the sponsorship programme
"Save a Little Desert Flower", the
Desert Flower Foundation has so
far been able to save over 1,000
girls from FGM in Sierra Leone
alone. But many more Desert
Flowers still must be saved. Our
ambitious goal: With the support
of our generous donors, the
Foundation wants to save 8,000
girls from this practice in the
coming years.
Every girl we save from FGM
now receives an education
and is protected from forced
marriage.
These little girls (left) were
already prepared for genital
circumcision. Our campaign
succeeded in saving them all.
Tragic incident. One cruel incident
came to the public attention during
Waris Dirie's campaign to raise
awareness about FGM by coincidence.
It was a dramatic example
of just how much more needs to be
done to completely eradicate this
brutal practice. 64 girls had been
genitally mutilated in a FGM massacre
in Sierra Leone. The 10-yearold
Mariatu did not survive the cruel
ritual and bled to death. Seven
other girls were admitted to hospital
in critical condition. Tragic:
Mariatu's father still wanted to prevent
the circumcision, as his older
daughter had already died from
the consequences of FGM. But her
mother had the brutal procedure
carried out anyway.
Waris Dirie was very upset
by the incident: "I have been
fighting against this horror for
more than 20 years, then I am in
Sierra Leone and I experience it
again. I am sorry that I could not
save Mariatus' life."
But at the same time, this is also
the biggest motivation for Waris
Dirie and her team from the Desert
Flower Foundation to save many
more girls from FGM with the
upcoming campaign. Thousands of
people in Sierra Leone have already
joined these efforts. And more are
joining every day.
Make a donation here!
By becoming a
sponsor you save
Desert Flowers
from the cruel
practice of FGM.
16 17

DESERT FLOWER
INSIDE
WÜSTENBLUME, THE MUSICAL
From "99 Luftballons"
to Wüstenblume
Hit producer Uwe
Fahrenkrog-Petersen.
He composed the
successful musical
Wüstenblume and the
song 8,000 Girls. A song
that gives hope.
He is a real guarantee for
Top Hits. Uwe Fahrenkrog-
Petersen composed songs like 99
Luftballons and Irgendwie, irgendwo,
irgendwann for Germany's
pop icon Nena, with whom he
toured for years as the keyboard
player. Fahrenkrog-Petersen also
wrote the soulful music for the
new musical Wüstenblume (see
pages 28/29), for which he has
already received a lot of praise
from international media.
The number 8,000. His song
8,000 girls is extremely emotional,
combative and stirring. A
song with unbelievably strong
expressiveness. A song that stirs
up lot of emotions. In the musical
Wüstenblume the song symbolises
Waris Dirie's speech at the United
Nations. On one hand, the
number 8,000 underlines that
even today 8,000 girls are still
genitally mutilated every day.
On the other hand the song
8,000 Girls also stands for the
next big ambitious goal that the
Desert Flower Foundation has
set itself in Sierra Leone, West
Africa. The foundation has already
managed to save more
than 1,000 girls from FGM, and
provided them with education.
Now they plan to save another
8,000 girls from this barbaric
procedure.
Uwe Fahrenkrog-
Petersen composed
the musical
Wüstenblume, which
tells the life story of
Waris Dirie.
Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen (2), Andoni Lopez
UWE FAHRENKROG-PETERSEN:
"Waris Dirie is my
big inspiration"
Interview: The hit producer on the challenges of
composing and his special source of creativity.
Desert Flower Foundation: Uwe,
how difficult was it to convey the
sensitive issue of female genital
mutilation in songs?
»Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen: At first I
was not really sure if it would work.
But then I dared to do it, and I was
positively surprised at how the music
created a link to these strong
emotions. In the end, music is all
about transporting emotions, the
bigger and stronger the emotions,
the stronger the song. I was moved
to tears while composing the song
"8000 Mädchen" at the piano. This
was a good sign that I was able to
tell Waris Dirie's own very stirring
story musically.
Desert Flower Foundation: Does it
help when composing that your
are dealing with a true story?
»Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen: Yes, it is
very helpful if you know it is a true
story. Music has to be true in order
to carry the listener away.
Desert Flower Foundation: How did
you approach the very difficult
topic? What inspired you?
»Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen: A lot.
From John Lennon to baroque,
opera choirs or heavy metal, even
Oasis. But one of my absolute favorite
composers is John Barry,
who also wrote the music for the
movie Out of Africa, which was a
good inspiration for the epic side
of the story. With the many changes
of place and time, the biggest
challenge was to write a homogeneous,
consistent musical and to
always show my very personal style.
Desert Flower Foundation: How
important was it that you got to
know Waris Dirie personally?
»Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen: You
MUST get to know Waris if you
want to portray her impressive life
very authentically in music. She is
Waris and Uwe on the
Red Carpet during the musical
world premiere in St. Gallen.
You
must get to
know Waris
if you want
to portray
her life
authentically
in
music!
Uwe Fahrenkrog-
Petersen on his motivation
The creators of the
musical Wüstenblume
with their
wives at the world
premiere at the
theater St. Gallen in
Switzerland. Third
from right: Fahrenkrog-Petersen
with
his wife Christin.
an exceptionally strong, inspiring
woman.
Desert Flower Foundation: Is it important
to you not only to entertain
with your music, but also to
make a social-political impact?
»Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen: As with
99 Luftballons, it is important to
me to use music to make a difference
in people's hearts and minds.
This is what I do best and therefore
I have to do it again to preserve this
world and make it a better place.
Support our projects!
With your generous
donation you help
us to protect girls
and women from
FGM.
18 19

DESERT FLOWER
MEDICINE
THAT'S UNIQUE!
Our Desert
The other
Desert Flower
Centers
Flower
Centers
Desert Flower Center in Berlin. Founded in 2013,
it is now the world's largest holistic treatment
center for sufferers of female genital mutilation.
Anyone who dials Dr. Cornelia
Strunz's emergency number
or visits her during consultation
hours has been through a terrible
experience. In her office on the
5th floor of the Desert Flower
Center in the Waldfriede hospital
in Berlin-Zehlendorf, she
receives women of many different
nationalities, but they all
have one thing in common: They
were genitally circumcised!
"Doctor Conny". "Most women
who come to me are scared and
shy. Many not only feel physically
disfigured, but also robbed
of their femininity," says Cornelia
Strunz, who everyone at the
Desert Flower Center just calls
"Dr. Conny". The center in Berlin,
which was founded by Waris
Dirie's Desert Flower Foundation,
has operated since 2013.
It has always been important to
her not only to protect girls and
women from the inhuman ritual
of female genital mutilation, but
also to help the women affected.
There are further Desert Flower
centers in Paris, Stockholm and
Amsterdam.
Holistic. Our Desert Flower
Center in Berlin is the only center
that offers holistic care for
women affected by FGM. The
concept: Physicians, physiotherapists,
psychologists and
social workers operate here as a
team and offer both medical and
psychosocial care. The ultimate
goal: to give women back their
quality of life.
Terrible torture. Women affected
by FGM very often suffer from
terrible pain when going to the
toilet and during sexual intercourse,
severe chronic inflammation,
fistulas, incontinence and
great mental stress. "The women
remember their circumcision for
the rest of their lives, the tortuous
way they were held down,
the fact that their legs were
bound together, the pain. That
is traumatising for them," Strunz
reveals.
Only a few surgeons in
the world perform reverse
operations (reconstruction of the
labia, clitoral reconstruction)
on circumcised women because
the procedure is complex. At the
Desert Flower center Berlin, Dr.
Uwe von Fritschen, a plastic surgeon,
takes over. The team in the
center is headed by doctor Roland
Scherer. He was also the one
who offered Cornelia Strunz the
responsible and very sensitive
task of looking after the women.
Doctor Conny has very quickly
grown into her work and in the
meantime, it has become a personal
life-task for her.
Most
women
who come
to me are
shy. They
feel robbed
of their
femininity.
Dr. Cornelia Strunz,
Desert Flower Center Berlin
The self-help group that meets
once a month at the Waldfriede hospital
in Germany's capital Berlin.
Doctor Conny is particularly pleased
when the affected women take their
children to her self-help group.
INDIVIDUAL THERAPIES
"I want to achieve the
best for every woman"
Desert Flower Foundation: How is group, which is very well received.
the Desert Flower center Berlin Most women are very frightened.
helping women affected by FGM? Desert Flower Foundation: Does every
woman who comes to the cen-
»Dr. Cornelia Strunz: We are the
first center to offer holistic help to ter have a genital reconstruction?
genital circumcised women. Both »Dr. Cornelia Strunz: No. Our help
surgically and psychologically. The also depends on the type of genital
consultation hours are important: circumcision, on how severe the
I take care of the women, I answer injuries are. But we can help most
all their questions and discuss their women very well surgically. The
worries. Very often I am the first most important thing for me is: I
woman they talk to about it. That is want to achieve the best therapy for
very touching. I also run a self-help each woman individually.
Interview:
Cornelia
Strunz on
her work at
the Desert
Flower Center
Berlin.
Team of physicians
from the Desert
Flower Center in
Berlin: Dr. Cornelia
Strunz (center),
Dr. Roland Scherer
(right) and Dr. Uwe
von Fritschen (left).
TRAINING CENTER IN AMSTERDAM
With Dr. Refaat Karim (second from right) a
training center for surgeons, gynaecologists
and urologists opened in Amsterdam in 2014.
"LA MAISON DES FEMMES" IN PARIS
Since 2016, women affected by FGM have
been able to contact the Desert Flower
center in the Hôpital Delafontaine in Paris.
DESERT FLOWER CENTER STOCKHOLM
In cooperation with the Karolinska
University Hospital, the fourth Desert Flower
center opened in Stockholm in 2015.
Here you can support us!
With your generous
donation you
can directly
support our
individual projects.
20 21

DESERT FLOWER
INSIDE
Father Peter Konteh
on the road in his
function as director
of the Desert
Flower Foundation
Africa.
Education for
girls is the key in
the fight against
female genital
mutilation. Father
Peter Konteh
distributing our
Desert Flower
education boxes.
EXEMPLARY
A Priest
Fights against FGM
Father Peter Konteh is director of the Desert
Flower Foundation Africa. He uses his contacts in
the fight against female genital mutilation. His
connections reach as far as the Pope in the Vatican.
Father Peter Alpha Konteh is an
institution in his home country
Sierra Leone, West Africa. The
people love him and he loves the
humanitarian work. His network
extends to the highest government
circles, Sierra Leone's
President Julius Maada Bio is a
good acquaintance with whom
he likes to exchange ideas. The
president has personally inquired
with Father Peter Konteh about
the projects of the Desert Flower
Foundation and the construction
progress of the first three Desert
Flower schools.
Organising talent. Peter Konteh
is also known for his extraordinary
organisational talent. Which
has brought us very far in the
implementation of the major education
initiative in Sierra Leone.
• Peter Konteh selected the
locations of the three Desert
Flower schools in River Number
2 (Kiera Chaplin School), Allen
Town (Werner Holzer School)
and Tombo (Rotary Club Heidenheim
School) according to very
special criteria.
• He coordinated the big
distribution of the 10,000 Desert
Flower education boxes to Sierra
Leone's schools together with
our local staff.
• During the Coronavirus shutdown,
he quickly distributed radio
sets to our sponsored girls in
The
religious
leaders
must dispel
the myth
that female
genital
mutilation is
a necessity.
Father Peter Konteh
on his efforts
Sierra Leone so that they could
use the distance learning initiated
by Sierra Leone's government.
A real rarity. And: Father Peter
Konteh is the first Catholic priest
in the world to publicly stand up
against female genital mutilation.
This is a topic of discussion that
he repeatedly raises during his
frequent visits to the Vatican.
During the terrible Ebola epidemic
in Sierra Leone (2014-
2016) he did not leave the
country, but instead worked
tirelessly for his people. Among
other things, he cared for orphaned
children. At the same
time, he also raised awareness
on an international level with two
high-profile speeches in the US
Congress and the British House
of Commons. The Sierra Leoneans
will always be grateful to
him for this. With Father Peter
Konteh we have a strong partner
just where our help is most urgently
needed.
During Coronavirus shutdown Father Peter Konteh equipped our
sponsored girls in Sierra Leone with radios for distance learning.
Networker: Father Peter Konteh with Waris Dirie (right) in 2019
visiting Freetown's mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr (centre).
PETER KONTEH POINTS OUT:
"No single religion
prescribes FGM"
Interview on the right to an intact body and our
three Desert Flower schools in Sierra Leone.
Desert Flower Foundation: What
criteria were used to select the
locations for the Desert Flower
schools in Sierra Leone?
»Father Peter Konteh: In all three
communities, River Number 2,
Allen Town and Tombo, there were
no schools. 67 percent of schoolage
children did not attend a school
there. This figure was alarming. And
the children were mainly engaged in
stone and sand mining, sea fishing
and other dangerous activities.
Desert Flower Foundation: What
must happen to eradicate FGM
once and for all?
»Father Peter Konteh: It is said
that it takes a village to raise a
child. Grandparents, mothers, fathers
and mothers-in-law all have
their roles to play, as do religious
leaders who must help dispel
the myth that FGM is a religious
necessity. FGM is a crime and
has no place in our time. FGM
has no health benefits and has
serious, immediate and long-term
physical and mental health consequences
that can be severe,
post-traumatic stress disorder, depression
and feelings of anxiety.
Desert Flower Foundation: Why is the
practice of FGM so deeply rooted
in Africa?
»Father Peter Konteh: In Africa, the
reasons for FGM vary greatly from
country to country, ethnic group to
ethnic group and community to community.
It is a deeply rooted social
practice associated with growing up,
marriageability, purity and sexual
control. The practice occurs in all
social classes and in many religious
groups, although no religion prescribes
it. One thing is clear: every girl
has the right to an intact body and to
education. It is crucial to ensure safe
and quality education opportunities
for girls at risk. A self-determined
woman with education will not easily
submit to the constraints of a community.
Make a donation here!
Please support
the work of the
Desert Flower
Foundation with
your donation.
22 23

DESERT FLOWER
CAMPAIGN
LUXURY LABEL, STAR PHOTOGRAPHER & SUPERMODEL
The Campaign again st FGM
Top collaboration. Desert Flower Foundation works with luxury label
Coco de Mer and star photographer Rankin in the fight against FGM.
London, the studio of star
photographer Rankin. Some
employees scurry through the
room, shouting commands
to each other. Spotlights are
switched on and off. Music by
Prince hammers from the speakers.
Click, click, click! Rankin is
sitting on the floor, pressing the
shutter release of his camera
staccato-like. The atmosphere
creates an immediate connection
between Waris Dirie and Rankin.
The result of the collaboration
causes a furore in the spring of
2019.
Comeback as model. EndFGM
was the name of the campaign,
entirely financed by the British
luxury lingerie label Coco de Mer.
In return, Waris Dirie posed for
the lingerie manufacturer's Icon
Collection. Waris' comeback as a
model was remarkable because,
as human rigths activist, she has
already decided not to take part
in future advertising campaigns.
She only wanted to engage in
promoting the rights of African
women, and to fight against the
brutal ritual of FGM.
Headlines. At the same time
Rankin produced the short film
"Save A Desert Flower" for the
Desert Flower Foundation.
Led by Waris, activists hold up
message-bearing posters. The
campaign triggered a huge international
media response. Many
newspapers and magazines, including
Vogue, Harper's Bazaar,
Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone Magazine,
Welt, Spiegel and El Pais, as well as
CNN, BBC and Sky News reported
Together
we can end
all these
terrible
abuses
against
little girls!
Waris Dirie on
the EndFGM-Initiative
on the campaign. The campaign
was deliberately launched on 7th
March 2019, one day before International
Women's Day.
"It is time for women to take
up the sceptre and restore peace,
love, understanding, care, compassion
and togetherness. I am
convinced that women will save
this world and make it a better
place again. That is why I say,
Women of the world, stand up,"
Dirie said at the time.
Award-winning. The EndFGM
campaign of the Desert Flower
Foundation in collaboration with
luxury lingerie brand Coco de
Mer and Rankin not only made
headlines, but also won awards. A
14-member expert jury of the renowned
German iF International
Forum crowned it with the Social
Impact Prize 2019. iF supports
social projects that solve social
challenges with new ideas and
impulses.
Rankin/Coco de Mer
SUPERSTAR
Rankin
puts Waris
on the spot
It was the first collaboration between
Waris Dirie and British
star photographer Rankin. And it
immediately became a great success.
Further projects are not excluded.
Uncomplicated. John Rankin Waddell,
as he is known by his civil
name, is one of the most famous
photographers in the world. From
Kate Moss, Heidi Klum and Queen
Elizabeth to thousands of strangers
on the street - all are equal in
front of his lens.
This is the official
photo for the EndFGM
campaign, produced
by British star
photographer Rankin
in London.
THIS IS WHAT
RANKIN SAYS:
"The reason
why I
support
Waris Dirie"
Interview on the
unique collaboration.
Desert Flower Foundation: What
was the main reason for you to
agree to shoot the campaign?
»Rankin: The Desert Flower
Foundation are doing some fantastic
work around awareness for
female genital mutilation. In so
many countries this is such an
urgent problem. I was impressed by
their commitment to bring this issue
to the attention of the world.
Desert Flower Foundation: How was
the work with Waris Dirie?
»Rankin: Well, she is a supermodel
after all. So it was an absolute joy.
Desert Flower Foundation: Waris'
sons, Aleeke and Leon, were
involved in the campaign.
What were your thoughts on
integrating them?
»Rankin: Bringing family together
to stand up against injustices in the
world is such a meaningful position
to take. Especially when some men
may find this particular subject
quite difficult to talk about. If we
can teach our children to stand up
for things we believe in the world
can change.
Desert Flower Foundation: The
campaign was awarded the iF
Social Impact Prize 2019 by
the renowned iF International
Forum. Do such awards still have
a special meaning for you?
»Rankin: When your work is recognised
whether it be in awards or
in the press, it always feels positive.
However it was never my intention
to go out to win awards, but more to
change public opinion.
Desert Flower Foundation: Can you
imagine producing further campaigns
for the Desert Flower
Foundation?
»Rankin: Absolutely, we must continue
to fight for women’s rights,
humanity needs to be equal.
Desert Flower Foundation: How important
is the social component
in your work? Is it significant to
you to give something back to the
people?
»Rankin: Definitely, being able to
make my living as a creative is a
privilege. It is one that I don’t take
for granted. The power of communication
is one that hopefully can
change hearts and minds. It would
be a shame if I couldn’t use my skills
to try and change the world.
The campaign video!
Here you can
download the
Rankin video
on the EndFGM
campaign.
24 25

DESERT FLOWER
CAMPAIGN
TWO CAMPAIGNS, ONE GOAL
Together for
African Women
Empowering women. With the successful initiatives
"Together for African Women" and "Soul of Africa"
we have strengthened the independence
of women in Ethiopia.
The Together for African Women campaign
supported 200 single mothers in Ethiopia.
Waris Dirie's collaboration
with the lingerie label Mey
caused quite a stir.
Mey, Vivobarefoot/Asiko
The Me, Myself and Mey
campaign resulted from
a collaboration with the
German lingerie label
Mey.
Waris Dirie repeatedly causes
a stir with large-scale campaigns.
She is not interested in
self-dramatisation. She is more
interested in raising awareness
of her mission, the fight against
female genital mutilation (FGM).
And to remind people that this
criminal act against innocent little
girls and women is still going on.
Great attention. This was also the
aim of the sensational campaign
Me, Myself and Mey back in 2011.
Waris Dirie posed for the German
lingerie label Mey, the campaign
was implemented by Jung von
Matt agency. And in such an exciting
way that the German tabloid
Bild Zeitung was carried away by
the headline "Charity can be so
sexy". The initiative did not miss
its mark. The campaign was then
published in the magazines with
the widest coverage in Germany,
Austria, Switzerland, Denmark,
Belgium and also the Netherlands.
The charity project Waris Dirie
& Mey bodywear - Together
for African Women had already
been implemented before. The
aim of the campaign was to
strengthen the independence of
African women. The proceeds
from the sale of scarves woven
in Ethiopia went to the Desert
Flower Foundation and its mission.
200 single mothers in Ethiopia
were supported and their
children were able to attend
school. The women learned
how to make scarves and fabrics
properly at "Sabahar", an
Ethiopian fair trade company that
produces handmade textiles for
the world market. All Desert Flower
students received diplomas after
two years. By the way, Waris
Dirie wears a copy of a scarf in the
picture right above.
Born Free, Born Nomad. The cooperation
with Vivobarefoot also
aimed to get support for the fight
against the female genital mutilation
and to strengthen women
in Africa. Waris Dirie became a
designer for the sustainable shoe
brand and created a summer
shoe for the Soul of Africa collection
together with the company's
creative team. Inspired by Waris,
the shoes featured the imprint
"Born Free, Born Nomad".
This fits perfectly with Waris
Dirie and reflects her life: "I was
born a nomad and will always be a
nomad." Again, part of the net proceeds
from the sale of the shoes
went to the Desert Flower Foundation
and its projects for Africa's
girls and women.
With
Vivobarefoot
Waris Dirie
designed a
shoe collection.
Part of the
net proceeds
went to the
Foundation.
Watch the campaign video!
Waris Dirie
explains how
the Vivobarefoot
campaign was
implemented.
26 27

DESERT FLOWER
MUSICAL
Waris Dirie (right) poses in front of the poster of
the musical that tells her life story. Kerry Jean (left
middle) gives a convincing performance.
Unforgettable! Cast and musical-makers will take up position
for the photographers after the world premiere on
February 22nd, 2020 at the theater St. Gallen. The mood is
relaxed after the premiere audience was so enthusiastic..
Wüstenblume - The
Acclaimed Musical
Powerful voices of
the leading actresses:
Naomi Simmonds (above
top left) and Kerry Jean
(large picture right).
Andreas J. Etter, Andoni Lopez, Anna-Tina Eberhard
Strong message. After bestselling book and
movie, Wüstenblume has also reached the musical
stage to inspire and encourage women and girls.
It was a memorable evening,
22nd February 2020 at the
St. Gallen Theatre. The world
premiere of the musical Wüstenblume
was eagerly awaited and
exceeded all expectations. Such
a sensitive topic as female genital
mutilation (FGM) on a musical
stage? Can this even work?
It works brilliantly!!! Thanks to
excellent staging (Gil Mehmert),
rousing music (Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen),
beautiful lyrics
(Frank Ramond), the powerful
voices of the performers (such
as Kerry Jean, Naomi Simmonds,
Jogi Kaiser) and impressive stage
design (Christopher Barreca).
And thanks to theatre director
Werner Signer, who showed
much courage and a great deal
of sensitivity by bringing Wüstenblume
to St. Gallen.
Musical encourages. German's
media like Süddeutsche Zeitung
and Zeit wrote about "Goose
bumps", the Welt said Wüstenblume
stirs up". Visibly stirred up
was also Waris Dirie, who came
on stage after the performance
and received a standing ovation.
She was overwhelmed that the
message was so well received by
the audience.
The
message of
the musical
is: You
can achieve
anything
even as a
woman!
Waris Dirie
on Wüstenblume
Waris Dirie: "I think the people
take something with them.
Something they learned in
the musical. That you can always
change something in life
if you dare to change. I want to
encourage all girls and women
with the musical. You can do
anything in life, even as a woman!
No matter where you come from
or what colour you are." After
book (1998) and movie (2009)
Wüstenblume has also succesfully
climbed the musical stage.
More info on the musical!
Here you will be
provided with
all information
about the musical
Wüstenblume.
28 29

DESERT FLOWER
Waris with
Salma Hayek
(left) and
Francois-Henri
Pinault.
With Salma
Hayek on
violence
against women
Waris Dirie on the
board of the
Kering Foundation of
Hollywood actress
Salma Hayek and her
husband, the French
entrepreneur
François-Henri
Pinault, who
supported Waris
Dirie's film Desert
Flower.
BACKSTAGE
FROM POLITICS
TO BUSINESS
& SHOWBIZ
Waris'
Network
Backstage. She is a supermodel and a Bond girl.
Waris Dirie finds her true passion in the fight
against female genital mutilation. She uses fame
and popularity for her life's mission.
2004 in
Hamburg:
Women's
World Award
Gala.
Highlight:
Sarkozy
honors
Waris in
Paris.
Honored with the
highest order of France
In July 2007, Waris Dirie and the
Desert Flower Foundation were
awarded France's highest order,
Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur
(Knight of the Legion of Honor),
by French President Nicolas
Sarkozy at the Élysée Palace in
Paris.
With model friend Liya Kebede
for H&M. Liya played Waris Dirie
in the movie Desert Flower.
Waris as UN
ambassador
UN Secretary General
Kofi Annan appointed
Waris Dirie as UN
Special Envoy against
female genital
circumcision in 1997.
She travelled around
the world to draw
attention to FGM.
Supermodel for
a good cause
As a supermodel Waris
Dirie worked for Chanel,
L'Oréal, Revlon, Versace,
Cartier, Levi's and many
other top brands. Today
she models for international
companies such as
H&M, Mey, Coco de Mer,
Rado to raise money
for the Desert Flower
Foundation.
With top
models Marcus
Schenkenberg
and Carmen
Kreuzer at the
Rado Desert
Flower gala.
With model colleague Alek Wek
at a Desert Flower charity.
Talk with Beatle Sir Paul McCartney about
a common project in Somalia.
Good sense of rhythm
Music is a supporting factor in the
life of Waris Dirie. During her
numerous encounters with Rock
and Pop stars,
there were
always profound
discussions and
interesting
exchanges of
opinions.
Ron Wood, guitarist
of the Rolling Stones,
plans an art project
with Waris.
With Güler
Sabanci
in Istanbul.
A strong
female power
The Sabanci Foundation
of Turkey's top
entrepreneur and
philanthropist
Güler Sabanci
supports the
educational projects
of the Desert Flower
Foundation. Waris
presents her first
school book My Africa
- The Journey.
2019 in Düsseldorf: Honorary prize for Paula
Caballero (r.) at the German Sustainability Award.
Mikhail Gorbachev presented
Waris with her trophy.
Honored and laudatory speech
In 2004 Waris Dirie was presented with the World Social Award
by Mikhail Gorbachev. In 2019 she gave the laudatory speech for
Paula Caballero at the German Sustainability Award.
With Poland's former president Lech
Walesa and manager friend Joanna
Jasik at a gala in Düsseldorf.
Political lobbying
In her function as UN special
envoy against female
circumcision, Waris Dirie met
numerous politicians. She is
friends with some of them,
others have honored her.
Poland's Lech Walesa advised
her: "You must never give up!
BBC documentary
on her unique career
A Nomad in New York is the title of
the highly acclaimed documentary
filmed by the British TV channel
BBC. It tells the life story of Waris
Dirie. Produced for the series The
day that changed my life.
Waris with friend
& fan: German pop
icon Nena (below).
With musician, Live Aid organiser and
long-term friend Bob Geldof talking
about an African project.
Waris Dirie on Instagram
Follow Waris Dirie
on Instagram and
learn all about
her mission first
hand.
At the Vienna Opera
At the Stanglwirt in
Ball 2018 as state guest In 2014 Waris received a high peace prize
Tyrol with former EU
of Austrian Chancellor
award from the British House of Lords.
Commission President
30 Sebastian Kurz.
Jean-Claude Juncker.
31

THANK YOU!
The Desert Flower Foundation expresses its thanks to all donors and sponsors.
Thanks to your support over the years we have been able to achieve many goals together. But
we have much more to do.
That is why we ask you to continue supporting us so generously!
"The loyalty of women must be earned with trust, respect and affection, not with
barbaric rituals. FGM has nothing to do with religion, the only proper reason and purpose
is the oppression of women. It is the most brutal form of oppression."
WARIS DIRIE
SAVE THE LITTLE
DESERT FLOWERS!
Donations to the Desert Flower Foundation are
tax deductible in Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
Desert Flower Foundation, Austria
Erste Bank, Kto. Nr: 294 698 036 00, BLZ: 20111
IBAN: AT 94 20111 294 698 036 00, BIC: GIBAATWWXXX
Desert Flower Foundation, Germany
Commerzbank, Kto. Nr: 40 55 64000, BLZ: 500 803 00
IBAN: DE 25 5008 0300 0405 5640 00, BIC: DRESDEFF500
Desert Flower Foundation, Switzerland
Raiffeisen Bank, Kto. Nr: 799407.36
IBAN: CH 89 8080 8004 2499 7163 4, SWIFT: RAIFCH22
Verein Desert Flower Switzerland
UBS, Kto. Nr. 0292-117744.01 L
IBAN: CH920029229211774401L, BIC: UBSWCHZH80A
Contact & information:
Desert Flower Foundation
Ungargasse 24, A-1030 Wien
office@desertflowerfoundation.org
www.desertflowerfoundation.org
Join us on social media!
/desertflowerfoundation /waris.dirie /waris.dirie