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On Amina Anna Sotaeva's sixth birthday her favourite uncle gifted her a toy tiger called Tigrou. Amina grew up on the border of Chechnya during a time of conflict and after her uncle was kidnapped the family fled for a new life in France. Amina's tiger came with her and quickly became her most treasured possession. But when she was 27 and studying for important law exams, Amina realised with horror that her little tiger had fallen out of her bag. She went on a desperate quest across Paris to find him. Days later, Amina would learn who had found her tiger – a woman called Fanta Keïta.

Fanta Keïta has collected lost and discarded objects ever since her mother left her when she was a small child growing up in Guinea. Fanta was brought up by a loving grandmother but felt the trauma of early maternal separation never left her. Fanta moved to Paris in her mid-20s and feared that her own separation from her two young sons was history repeating itself. But settling into life in France, Fanta made sure her sons never felt the sense of abandonment she experienced. She also began an extraordinary process to feel whole again after undergoing FGM as a child.

This episode contains a brief description of female genital mutilation which some listeners might find difficult to hear.

Dr Sarah Abramowicz is the gynaecological surgeon who operated on Fanta. She is based in a hospital in Montreuil to the east of Paris and leads a multidisciplinary team that aims to support women in France who decide they want reconstructive surgery. She is president of the organisation, Reparons l'excision (Let's repair the cut). Outside of her work Sarah has another passion – food. It was her journalist neighbour who introduced her to the flavours of Beninese chef Georgiana Viou.

Georgiana Viou grew up in a matriarchal household in Benin, immersed in the mouth-watering flavours of West Africa. Food was an important part of everyday life but Georgiana dreamed of becoming an interpreter. When she was 22 she moved to Paris to study, but after she became unexpectedly pregnant she quit university and began working in kitchens instead. She had a new dream – to open her own kitchen. After taking part in the cooking television show MasterChef, Georgiana's career went from strength to strength. She’s since been awarded a Michelin star for her restaurant in Nimes.

If you have been affected by FGM there are a number of organisations working internationally to support you including Unicef, UN Women and the World Health Organisation.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producers: May Cameron and Jo Impey

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: Cassette tape. Credit: Getty Images)