Orchid Project was founded in June 2010 by Julia Lalla-Maharajh OBE and gained official UK charitable status in April 2011.

Julia was volunteering in Ethiopia when she first came across the practice of FGM, and was galvanised into taking action. Having witnessed for herself how widespread and damaging the practice was in just one country, she returned to the UK determined to help bring about an end to FGM. After volunteering with various charities and NGOs already working on the practice, in order to find out more about FGM, Julia threw herself into her new role as an ambassador for ending FGM. What followed were stints on the Trafalgar Square Plinth to raise awareness, a YouTube competition for a human rights campaigner to attend the World Economic Forum, and a trip to Davos after her three minute video won her a place in a global vote.