Desta Mender: Empowering women to lead independent lives.
Desta Mender is Hamlin’s residential training centre. Here, women develop the skills and confidence they need to rebuild their lives.
Image: © Joni Kabana
Treatment and rehabilitation
Hamlin helps women in Ethiopia recover from serious childbirth injuries, including obstetric fistula. It often takes just two hours and £750 to cure obstetric fistula with a single surgery. Every year, our six hospitals provide more than 4,000 of these treatments at no cost to the patients.
However, our help doesn’t end in the hospital ward. The physical, social and emotional impact of fistula can be traumatic and isolating. Many patients suffer the devastation of the injury as well as having a stillbirth. Some families and communities even isolate or abandon them due to the stigma.
At Desta Mender, we help patients reintegrate into their community. They learn vital core skills such as literacy and numeracy. They’re also taught vocational skills to help them gain financial independence.
Life at Desta Mender
Desta Mender, which means ‘Joy Village’, can accommodate up to 70 former patients at a time. Every woman’s journey is unique. Their needs and aspirations are carefully assessed. Staff create programmes that give women the practical skills needed for economic independence. Each woman spends two months at Desta Mender.
The centre has market gardens, an orchard and dairy farm. There is also a café where residents can learn hospitality skills. Women gain independence and learn new skills for when they return home or make a fresh start. They are trained to be active members of their community and we provide support to help them thrive.
Last year*, a total of 272 women took part in Desta Mender’s two month rehabilitation and training programme.
An additional 122 women who had previously completed the programme were provided with seed money to help them gain independence.
There were five intakes of new residents during the year, with an average of 55 participants each time.
2,715 patients completed basic numeracy and literacy training, enabling them to carry out simple sums and write their own name.
*July 2024 to June 2025
Abebech’s story
Abebech grew up in a remote Ethiopian village, helping her family on the land.
After getting married at a young age and becoming pregnant, she planned to give birth at home. But, after three arduous days in labour, Abebech sadly gave birth to a stillborn baby. She also sustained an obstetric fistula which left her incontinent.
Abebech’s husband deserted her. Alone and without an education, she was was unable to work to support herself. She lived a life of isolation.
Because of the fistula, people commented on the very bad smell. I didn’t visit my neighbours for coffee and I never went to church or the market. I cried all day and night.
After a year of suffering, Abebach was told about Hamlin Fistula. She was taken to Yirgalem Regional Fistula Hospital. Following successful surgery, she was invited to attend Desta Mender. Abebech approached her training with great enthusiasm. She completed literacy and numeracy training and was eager to continue learning. Abebach went on to study cooking, sewing, embroidery and poultry farming. She graduated in August 2024 with high hopes.
In January 2025, Hamlin staff went to see Abebech in her community. They found her thriving, selling kocho, a traditional bread, in her local market. She does this twice a week and earns around 500 Ethiopian birr (£2.60) each time. This is a significant contribution to her household. She has also taken up knitting at home and hopes to expand to poultry farming in time. She shares her home with her new husband, who loves to see her thriving and running her own business.
Rehabilitation into communities
It’s important that women can build a good life after leaving Desta Mender. Before they return home, they are introduced to other Hamlin patients in their local area. This gives them a support network of people who understand what they have been through.
Going back home is not always easy. Hamlin works with families and local communities to help women settle back in and feel accepted. This also helps people understand fistula and removes the stigma that often surrounds the condition.
With this support, women can move forward with confidence. They can rebuild their lives and take their place in their communities once again.
Support women like Abebech
Abebech could only get the treatment and support she needed because of people like you.
Please give today. Your donation will help more women like Abebech heal and rebuild their lives.