Adanech sustained a devastating obstetric fistula during the birth of her seventh child, which left her incontinent and in immense physical and emotional pain. Unable to face the judgement of others, Adanech withdrew from her family and friends.
“They [Hamlin staff] helped me triumph over pain and isolation to stand tall as a beacon of hope and resilience.” - Adanech
Following transformative fistula surgery at both Hamlin’s Yirgalem and Addis Ababa Fistula Hospitals, Adanech attended the Women’s Empowerment program where she trained in handicrafts, food preparation, poultry farming and animal husbandry.
Recognising the potential for a sustainable income through livestock, Adanech invested the seed money she’d been given in a cow and a goat and started her own business. She saved her earnings and formed a support network with other women, pooling their resources to achieve their shared vision of a brighter future.
