Chinello Ifebigh

Chinello is the founder of The House Of Circe Foundation an organization she founded in 2025. After her term as president, she became director of the foundation.

"Years ago, I saw a documentary on Netflix: City of Joy. About a community and safe haven in Bukavu DRCongo, for women survivors of conflict-related violence. A place of regenerative recovery and transformation, where women who come in broken leave as strong individuals full of agency and life force.

This documentary resonated deeply and awakened a tremendous longing deep within me.

Although I have not experienced conflict-related gender violence, unfortunately some of the experiences of the women of City of Joy are very relatable to me and to many women I know.

I am part of a women's lineage of strong women who have all experienced violence and sexual trauma. From both my own personal experience, as well as my work as a touch therapist, confidential adviser and psychotrauma therapist-in-training, I am regular witness to how trauma, burnout, illness, intimate terror and poverty takes a toll on women's health - and how it limits their voice, power and strategic presence in the world. I have seen these limitations carry over to future generations.

This legacy must be broken.

Every day we are called and every day we are chosen. Life calls us and fate reaches out to us; it invites us to make large or small commitments. It is up to us to decide what we want to do with the time we have on earth. I have decided to dedicate the rest of my time to the Siren Sanctuary.