Healing Hands of Joy is a 501(c)(3) organization that exists to bring hope, happiness and a second chance to women affected by obstetric fistula. Obstetric Fistula is a double sorrow. A woman loses her baby in long, painful, obstructed labor and then wakes up to the horror of incontinence. A woman with obstetric fistula is often abandoned by her husband, ostracized by her family and village and left to live the rest of her life alone and ashamed. Fortunately there is a cure and many women in Ethiopia are treated, but after living years in this condition and being married at an early age, women recovered from fistula have few options for their future. Join us as we fight to end fistula and give these women a brighter future.
//HHOJ NEWS
THE HHOJ AFRICAN WINE TASTING EVENT
For the first time, one of our Safe Motherhood Ambassadors is coming to the US! Purchase your ticket to come and taste great African wines and hear Beriha Reda speak about her story and the work of HHOJ.
Check out Iris Fistula Project's short film about Healing Hands of Joy and the Mekele Center.
DOWNLOAD OUR 2012 ANNUAL REPORT
Take a look at our 2012 Annual Report to see some of the amazing things that Healing Hands of Joy has been a part of this past year.
To download right click the picture to the left or here and select "Save as..."
JOIN OUR FILM FIGHTS FISTULA CAMPAIGN
Healing Hands of Joy is excited to announce the launch of Film Fights Fistula a new awareness and fundraising campaign. Thanks to the support of PBS award-winning science series, NOVA, YOU can host your own screening of the Emmy Award winning documentary A Walk to Beautiful, produced by Engel Entertainment. This inspiring film follows the journeys of five Ethiopian women who suffer from fistula as they seek a cure. For more information click here.
Take a look at some of the attention that Healing Hands of Joy is getting on Ethiopian television
NOW, 100% OF CONTRIBUTIONS GO DIRECTLY TO THE SAFE MOTHERHOOD AMBASSADORS PROGRAM
Our Angel Donor, Bill Bloomfield, recognizes the importance and success of the mission of Healing Hands of Joy and its operations. Healing Hands of Joy is thrilled that Bill decided from the beginning to believe in the vision of helping women with obstetric fistula as its first major donor and is a member of the Healing Hands of Joy Board of Directors. Now Bill wants to ensure that every dollar that is donated to Healing Hands goes directly to helping women in Ethiopia by becoming our Angel Donor and donating the entire U.S. operations budget. An active leader on the community, national and international stage, Bill is our hero and playing a major role in eradicating obstetric fistula through Healing Hand’s of Joy’s programs.
LISA LING SPEAKS OUT AGAINST FISTULA
In this day and age, fistula is an ordeal that no one should have to endure - the wonder of child birth becomes a curse, turning a woman or girl into a modern day leper. Healing Hands of Joy is a unique program that gives them back their dignity and a meaningful place in their communities.
- Lisa Ling -
On Friday night, September 23rd, investigative journalist and host of Our America on the Oprah Winfrey Network teamed up with the UNFPA to support the work of Healing Hands of Joy, a non-profit working in Ethiopia to empower former fistula patients and prevent fistula. The evening featured a special screening of Oxygen Network’s film The Bride Was Seven where Lisa Ling investigated child marriage in Ethiopia. Healing Hands of Joy’s Founder and Executive Director, Allison Shigo along with HHOJ board member and producer of The Bride Was Seven, Amy Bucher were on hand to introduce the organization’s work training former fistula patients as Safe Motherhood Ambassador to prevent fistula in their communities and lead sustainable lives.
Lisa Ling read a moving poem she wrote while in Ethiopia about the devastating effects of child marriage on young girls including traumatic rape and unwanted childbirth injuries such as obstetric fistula. Lisa Ling emphasized that Healing Hands of Joyis one of the only organizations in Ethiopia filling the gap in providing social reintegration for women who have suffered from fistula.
Learn about the amazing way Healing Hands of Joy is helping end fistula in Ethiopia. HHOJ's Safe Motherhood Ambassadors is a unique program that empowers women to save lives and heal communities.
//WHAT WE DO
SAFE MOTHERHOOD AMBASSADORS
To empower former fistula patients and save mother’s lives we’ve developed a one-month curriculum to train former fistula patients as Safe Motherhood Ambassadors. They are taught basic maternal health skills, communication, and in some cases literacy training to monitor and promote the message of safe delivery to pregnant women in their villages.
FISTULA PREVENTION
Safe Motherhood Ambassadors provide voluntary support for maternal health in their community to save children’s lives and prevent childbirth injuries such as obstetric fistula. They will educate their neighbors about the causes of fistula and how it can be prevented.
COUNSELING
We are providing counseling to women who have been traumatized by being ostracized by their communities for having fistula. Many fistula patients need to know they are loved and have a purpose in live and Healing Hands of Joy helps these women move past the shame and stigma of having fistula so they can lead joyful, productive lives.
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
Our program also includes income-generating skills training to support their small business dreams and empower former fistula patients economically. We provide SMA graduates with a small start-up fund to help them lead self-sustainable lives.
