Beyond Fistula

Siantayo is a teenaged girl in Kenya. She has a mother, a father, and eight siblings - four girls and four boys. Siantayo was born with a fistula and has had many surgeries to try to correct it. Now she has a colostomy to manage. She likes studying and feels blessed to have support in her education.

Despite many hardships in her young life, Quinter has been steadfast in continuing her education. At age 13, she became pregnant, had a difficult labor, and required medical help to recover. After her successful recovery to health, Quinter returned home to continue her schooling; she is being raised by her older sister. Quinter has not given up on her education or her hopes of one day becoming a doctor.

has both parents, was raped by a family member 2 yrs ago leading to internal damage/fistula. She is not safe at home and is being raised by the women in the Beyond Fistula program as her mother doesn't feel she can be kept safe at home.

Pauline Moraa Pauline is a shy, bright, seven-year-old who is currently doing well in school after recovering from an unsafe family situation. Her loving grandparents sent her to Beyond Fistula due to concerns for her safety, and she has now happily adjusted to life here. The older women at Beyond Fistula are like her big sisters, and she loves her new 'family', as well as the opportunity to pursue her education.

Briana is a teenager at Hillside School in Eldoret, Kenya. She lives with her mother, father, two sisters, and two grandmothers. Briana hopes that she will be able to continue her education into a good career, but she is not sure what yet.

Emmanuel is a young boy whose mother is a survivor of obstetric fistula. This condition made it difficult for her to work, and she and her sons were abandoned by the father. He has his grandparents in his life, but he and his brother and mother are houseless and have periods of surviving on only one meal a day. Emmanuel very much wants to learn. When he is not in school he loves playing with his brother.