•MALAWI , AFRI CA •KISSIDOUGOU , GUIN EA A Brighter Future for Tackling Gender-Based Violence Greater Hope in the Fight Standing Up Against Women Worldwide & Promoting Gender Equality to End Fistula Child Marriage

Every day at EngenderHealth, the In the southeast African country of Malawi, Kadiatou Diallo is a mother of two Manisha's story is no different work we're doing across the globe­ reports show that one out of five girls living in Kissidougou, Guinea. than that of many young girls ' and the depth of expertise and below the age of 18 has been a victim of In between the births of her eldest in her small village in India.She relationships that enable our teams gender-based violence. The violence is child and her youngest, Kadiatou had to leave school early-after � to be effective-are all made linked to poverty and lack of economic endured a heartbreaking delivery of finishing the third grade-to Bertha Namala proudly Kadiatou Diallo, fistula With the help of a counselor possible through the generosity of donors like you. displays the new sewing independence among young women and survivor, thanks to a stillborn baby. trained by EngenderHealth, help her mother take care of the machine she received after girls, which subject them to all types of EngenderHealth and Manisha (on right) delayed household.And like many girls Take,f or instance, our Fistula Care Plus team that successfully completing our generous supporters. Kadiatou had suffered from obstetric her marriage. our vocational course. gender-based violence. in her village, she was expected operates the most preeminent program of its kind fistula, an oftenlife-threatening, but to marry early through an arrangement dictated by in the world, partnering with healthcare providers to EngenderHealth is working to change all that through our women's largely preventable condition. It is all too common in her parents. repair fistulas, an often-debilitating condition that economic empowerment intervention. Since its inception less than the developing world, affecting an estimated more than most commonly results from obstructed labor. In a year ago, more than 500 beneficiaries from the four districts of 2 million girls and women today. For women with fistula, When Manisha's parents identified a boy for her the last year, we've supported more than 3,400 Mzimba, Kasungu, Chiradzulu, and Blantyre have graduated from the consequences can be devastating. The baby usually to marry from a nearby village, she was just 17 years fistula repairs and trained 27 surgeons and 1,369 the program, gaining valuable vocational skills. By helping these dies during labor, and the mother is leftwith chronic old. The boy had not been formally educated and other healthcare workers. We have helped educate vulnerable out-of-school girls and young women learn to become incontinence, often leading to isolation from family and worked as a laborer like her parents. Manisha did not economically self-reliant, this initiative is a crucial part of their the public about fistula through community events community life, and neglect or abandonment by male want to get married at such an early age, especially journey to empowerment.And it's giving them the necessary tools and media-reaching tens of millions. These partners. Without surgical repair, a woman's prospects for to someone she didn't even know and who had to reduce their vulnerability to gender-based violence. Because numbers aren't just statistics. They represent real work or family support are greatly diminished, and she is no education. once girls and women can generate their own income, they find people who are able to live healthier lives with often left to rely on charity. the freedom to determine their own futures.In turn, the risk of That's what prompted Manisha to turn to her peer greater opportunity, thanks to you. abuse is lowered, and women are better positioned to challenge Fortunately, in up to 90% of cases, fistula can be surgically group and its educators for help.After hearing repaired. Through the Fistula Care Plus project, Manisha's distress, the group sought further guidance In Ethiopia, at a university near Addis Ababa, attempted abuse. EngenderHealth works to restore health to women with from a counselor trained by EngenderHealth in the peer educators described how support from One of EngenderHealth's directors in Malawi speaks to the fistula and prevent other women from developing the area of adolescent health and development. The EngenderHealth enables their fellow students to incredible progress made so far: "All the graduating beneficiaries condition. To day, we have become the number one counselor visited Manisha's village, meeting with peer understand their own bodies, their rights, and their have shown a great interest and capacity in pursuing their vocation provider of fistula care in the developing world. educators and influential community members to options for ensuring their own sexual and skills in order to uplift their socio-economic lives.Apart from the discuss the ill effects of child marriage and urge the reproductive health. In a country that has developed vocation skills, we have also equipped them with basic gender And the impact is truly transformative for women like group to take action to save Manisha's life by Kadiatou: "I experienced this painful situation for seven rapidly in recent decades, these young people are knowledge to promote gender equity and equality among these confronting Manisha's parents. It's important to note months, until one day my neighbor told me that she committed to creating change. graduating women and men in their respective communities, that this EngenderHealth-supported effort follows the learned that my illness could be treated without paying which is critical in reducing gender-based violence overall." principle "Do No Harm" to ensure interactions with As EngenderHealth embarks on more than seven anything. I came out healed," says Kadiatou. "I thank all families remain sensitive to this subject and other decades of dedicated work reaching more than II ... I will be able to start and run my own business those near or far, who have helped to positively change long-held cultural norms. 90 countries, we celebrate promising stories of and support my family. 11 my life. I encourage other women suffering from the transformation for the millions of lives we've touched - Bertha gained vocational skills and economic empowerment same illness to go for treatment ... and especially not to II ... I think all young boys and girls should along the way. At the same time, we look forward to lose hope." Kadiatou has since had another baby, who is because of EngenderHealth focus on their education." expanding our reach even further in the years ahead. healthy, happy, and thriving. - Manisha, on standing up against child marriage To that end, we've relocated our headquarters to After graduation, beneficiaries are offered start-up capital or Washington, D.C., as part of our strategic plan to materials to initiate and sustain small-scale businesses. The 111 thank all those near or far, who have helped In the end, Manisha's mother agreed to delay her be better positioned to advance global sexual and impact is palpable among program graduates like Bertha Namala. to positively change my life. 11 daughter's marriage. And today, Manisha continues to reproductive health and rights, so all women and She says the skills she has gained will enable her to support her - Kadiatou is inspired to encourage other women with fistula to go help other girls in her village stand up against early girls can participate as equal members of society. children and family, as well as the community. "I did not go far for treatment marriages.She says, "I could not complete my studies, with my education and, as such, I did not have skills that would but I think all young boys and girls should focus on We know that when women have access to family enable me to generate any stable income. With the skills I have their education." planning services and quality reproductive acquired through this training, I will be able to start and run my healthcare, they can determine their own futures, own business and support my family," shares Bertha. receive an education, earn a living, send their children to school-and be an integral part of improving the communities in which they live. All of AS A RESULT, 3.5 million unintended this combined makes the world a brighter place. In the last year, because of dedicated partners and supporters like you, EngenderHealth: Your generosity is key to our success, thank you. pregnancies and 1.35 million unsafe abortions were averted. Nearly 51,000child � Worked in nearly � Ensured that 6.2 million people � Trained more than � Offered more than 4 million 'i§I 8,000 health � � ' had access to family planning � 17,000 healthcare �� people a contraceptive method deaths and 5,500 maternal deaths were Traci L. Baird facilities worldwide services,including counseling on providers in 18 countries of their choice prevented. Your generosity is a driving force President, CEO, and Fellow Supporter modern contraceptive methods in this amazing global progress, thank you!