Martha lives in the heart of Didessa, a small Ethiopian village cradled by lush hills and fields. For nearly 40 years, Martha lived with the burden of obstetric fistula. Now 70, she poured her heart into raising her three children, but her fourth pregnancy changed everything in her life. A long shadow is cast During […]

Without the compassion and generosity of people like you, many women like Wolaytie would still be hidden away, silently suffering in pain and shame with debilitating obstetric fistula injuries. This is Wolaytie’s incredible story of resilience and transformation. Wolaytie grew up in a remote village in the Semenari Woreda of southern Ethiopia as the daughter […]

Chaltu is in her early 20s, yet she has already lived with the pain and isolation of obstetric fistula for many years. The eldest of five children, her childhood in rural Ethiopia was spent helping her parents tend the family farm: “I never went to school and grew up like the other children in my […]

Kalkidan is from a farming family and grew up in a small village. Her childhood was spent tending to animals and helping her mother with chores at home. After her marriage, Kalkidan fell pregnant right away. But heartbreak soon followed. Kalkidan lost her baby during childbirth and also suffered an obstetric fistula. Despite the ongoing […]

Adisie grew up in the heart of South Gondar. Her life was shaped by hardship from the very beginning. After her father passed away, she lived with her mother, who struggled to care for Adisie and her siblings. Sadly her first marriage was short-lived and ended in heartbreak. Hoping for a fresh start, she remarried […]

Because of you, Tirunesh is cured from obstetric fistula and is looking forward to the future. Tirunesh lives with her husband and two year old child in southern Ethiopia. She was delighted when she found out she was expecting her second child.  After six days in obstructed labor, she delivered a stillborn baby and sustained […]

“I feel lighter now, both in body and spirit.” “It feels like I have been given a second chance.” “I have regained my confidence.” This is how Tesfanesh and thousands of women like her who have suffered the devastating consequences of obstetric fistula feel after being cured. Tesfanesh sustained an obstetric fistula during the birth […]

Tesfanesh is 25 years old. She is the oldest of eight siblings and was born and raised in the Checho kebele (district) of Ethiopia. After getting married, Tesfanesh and her husband, Tsegaye were very excited to be expecting their first child together. They had always wanted to start a family. But after an agonizing two-day […]

Sakada is 30 years old and lives in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. Three months ago, she lost a baby and the grief is still written across her face. Her first baby girl was born healthy and is now eight years old. But her second and third babies were sadly stillborn. The birth injuries Sakada […]

Debritu is from a remote village far from the city in the Wollega region of Oromia. After three agonising days in obstructed labour with nobody to help her, Debritu finally sought help at a local health centre. She received no support but was referred to a local hospital. It was too late. Debritu’s baby was […]