Overview

I am a twenty-year-old student in Kenya. I suffered with a leaking fistula for five years and got surgery to fix it last year. I got the fistula from trying to give birth when I was only 14 and I had been impregnated by rape. I grew up an orphan with three brothers.

My goals are to finish my education. I just finished my final papers for the semester and look forward to continuing my studies in January. I live with my grandmother - she took in my brothers and me and makes enough to pay their school fees but not mine. I am studying finance at a local technical college.

I need to pay for my education next semester (module two). I need $150 to buy books, pay the fee, and buy the uniform.

Meeting this need will help me because I am smart and hardworking and finishing school is the only thing standing between me and getting a good job to earn an income. Even when I had a leaking fistula I went to school anyway (despite being bullied). Nothing is going to stand in the way of me completing my education—I just need help meeting the fees.

Validated

Validated by Debra from Beyond Fistula (What does this mean?)

Nivea was supported by the Beyond Fistula program for her high school education. She has grown into a mature and confident young women- which is a huge change from just a few years ago. Nivea has endured extreme bullying in school due to her fistula (prior to being repaired) and has lived a life of extreme poverty due to being an orphan. To see Nivea now, as a motivated and self assured woman, makes me extremely proud. I believe in Nivea- she is determined to succeed.

About Debra

I am the co-founder and Executive Director of Beyond Fistula. I founded the nonprofit in 2012 after seeing how much these young Kenyan women needed help rebuilding their lives after recovering from a childbirth injury known as obstetric fistula. I am endlessly motivated by their hope and tenacity… Read more