Saving Safa was written by Waris Dirie, an FGC survivor, activist, internationally renowned model, and the founder of the Desert Flower Foundation.

Saving Safa opens with a letter from Safa Nour - a 7 year old girl from Balbala in Djibouti - to Waris Dirie. In the letter Safa expresses concern that she will soon undergo FGC, despite the contract her parents have with Dirie’s Desert Flower Foundation, stating they will not have their daughter cut. Upon receiving the letter, Waris Dirie drops everything and goes to Djibouti to try and convince Safa’s parents not to have their daughter cut.

Through Waris’ journey, the book explores many dimensions of FGC - from long term health effects, to intergenerational trauma and social stigma.