Written by Tenagne Mekonnen Gonit, Communications & Fundraising Coordinator for Healing Hands of Joy. Tenagne serves survivors of obstetric fistula, sharing stories of hope and resilience passionately.
This blog highlights the work of Healing Hands of Joy, an organization iZōsh International deeply respects and partners with by providing business loans for women graduating from their programs. The mission of Healing Hands of Joy is “to see obstetric fistula eliminated from Ethiopia.” Like, Healing Hands of Joy, iZōsh International believes in using education as an effective way to address the root causes of fistula and extreme poverty.
A Mother’s Agony
In the quiet farmlands of Oromia, Ethiopia, Nezifa endured four agonizing days of labor at home, only to suffer the devastating loss of her stillborn child. The physical and emotional pain was unimaginable, but a silent suffering followed: obstetric fistula. This condition, a tragic consequence of her ordeal, caused an uncontrollable leak of urine.
For four long years, Nezifa lived in isolation, her condition a source of shame and stigma. Her marriage crumbled, and she retreated from her community. “It was the darkest chapter of my life,” she shared, recalling a time when hope was a distant memory. She felt utterly alone, trapped in a cycle of pain and secrecy.
A Glimmer of Hope and a New Purpose
But hope, as it so often does, found its way to her. Local health workers connected Nezifa with Healing Hands of Joy. Healing Hands of Joy took Nezifa to the Jimma University Fistula Treatment Center, where a team of skilled surgeons performed a life changing repair.
Not only physical healing, Nezifa received a life changig training from Healing Hands of Joy, which ignited a fire within her soul. Having walked the lonely path of suffering, Nezifa felt a powerful calling to help others avoid the same fate. She chose to become a Safe Motherhood Ambassador—a beacon of change in her own community.
Empowered to Lead: Breaking the Silence
Today, Nezifa is more than a survivor; she is a leader. She tirelessly educates pregnant women on vital maternal health practices and actively identifies other women secretly suffering from fistula. Thanks to her courage and dedication, the suffocating silence and stigma are finally being broken. She has already connected several women to the life-saving treatment that transformed her own life.
Healing Hands of Joy did not just stop here. They empowered Nezifa with a grant, providing a path to economic independence. Nezifa used her grant for one cow, and she has now grown a flourishing herd, giving her the financial freedom to support her family and continue her vital work.
“The intervention from Healing Hands of Joy has transformed my life,” Nezifa says, her voice full of gratitude. Her journey is a powerful testament to how medical care, combined with community support and economic opportunity, can truly restore dignity and build a brighter future.”
Nezifa’s story proves that every woman deserves a chance to heal and thrive. She is a shining example of a survivor who became an inspiration.
You can help us change more lives like Nezifa’s. iZōsh Chapter donations go directly to women in Ethiopia like Nezifa, providing essential economic support as Safe Motherhood Ambassadors like her offer vital care in their communities.
Together, we can turn pain into purpose and build a world where every woman can reclaim her life.
