Terrewode Women’s Fund supports Terrewode, an NGO in eastern Uganda that provides obstetric fistula prevention, repair, and social reintegration.

When a woman goes into a prolonged, obstructed labor without access to trained medical assistance, she can suffer an obstetric fistula. This life-altering but largely preventable condition causes a woman to leak urine or feces and can result in isolation, depression, and poverty.

After Terrewode completes surgery to repair a woman’s fistula, it offers a Reintegration Program to help her fully heal from the trauma and successfully integrate into her community. This pioneering two-week program includes counseling, safe motherhood education, family planning education and services, and other social reintegration support. All participants also receive life skills, microfinance, and income-generating training with five modules. After graduating from the program, women have launched businesses in soapmaking, tailoring, baking, hairdressing, mechanics, and other areas.