Overview

My name is Lucy and I am a 43 year old mother of three. My children are in their early twenties. I got a fistula in 2004 and suffered with pain and leaking for four years. Because of the stigma and smell of fistula, my community banished me and I had no one to help me pay for surgery to fix the fistula, so I sold my only property to pay for the surgeries. My fistula was complicated I had to have multiple surgeries: 2008, 2009, 2014, and 2018. I am now on 6 months required rest to heal from the last surgery.

My goal is to build a dam on the 1/2 acre of property I just inherited so that I can earn income by farming and selling my crops.

I need funds ($300) to build this dam and redirect the water on my inherited 1/2 acre of land so that I can farm.

Meeting this need will help me because when I have control of the water flow on my land I can irrigate my crops and grow food. On this land I can grow enough to feed myself and my children and sell the excess at market. I will use the money to support myself and my children.

Validated

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

Lucy has had multiple difficult surgeries to try and repair her obstetric fistula and extensive damage caused by her obstructed labor. She is still recovering from her surgeries and is determined to get back to work when she returns home. She plans to build a dam to help irrigate her small plot of land. She will use these funds to pay for labor help to build the dam and to start tilling and planting her land. Beyond Fistula will be supporting her and following up with her to ensure her success.

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