As we approach the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, we celebrate the power of education, advocacy, and youth leadership in transforming futures and ending obstetric fistula. In Kenya, one of Worldwide Fistula Fund’s Program Partners — Let’s End Fistula Initiative (LEFI) — is leading a remarkable movement that puts girls at the center of change.
Founded by Sarah Omega, a fistula survivor turned maternal healthcare champion, LEFI is rewriting the narrative for girls at risk of obstetric fistula — a devastating childbirth injury caused by prolonged, obstructed labor. Through its Young Champions Fistula Clubs (YCFC), LEFI is reaching adolescents in schools across nine counties with life-saving education and empowerment.
Globally, complications from pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death among girls aged 15 – 19. (Source: WHO) In Kenya, early marriage and teen pregnancy remain prevalent, especially in underserved and more rural regions. These factors contribute to the high incidence of obstetric fistula, which often leads to incontinence, stigma, and isolation.
But Sarah and her Team are flipping the script: YCFC students are now a referral source for LEFI, so they can connect women to the care they need for childbirth injuries, but also for preventative care, to ensure safe delivery and avoid injuries altogether. These referrals by Young Champion club members are showing the real impact and change that LEFI is making to prevent and ultimately end fistula in Kenya.
What Are Young Champions Fistula Clubs?
Launched in 2021, these school-based clubs are safe spaces for learning, leadership, and transformation. With support from Kenya’s Ministry of Health, YCFCs teach students about:
Impact Brief
- Sexual and reproductive health
- Safe motherhood and childbirth injury prevention
- The dangers of early marriage and adolescent pregnancy
- Mental health and gender-based violence
- Financial literacy and leadership skills
- Resources and information on how they can help someone find help if they need it.
LEFI’s approach is bold and effective: prevention through education, and healing through community connections. Survivors of fistula serve as mentors and educators, sharing their stories to inspire change and break the silence around this condition.
On October 11, we honor the strength, potential, and rights of girls everywhere, especially to make decisions about their own bodies. At Worldwide Fistula Fund, we are proud to partner with LEFI and support their groundbreaking work in Kenya. Together, we are building a world where every girl can grow up safe, educated, and empowered — and where fistula is no longer a silent tragedy, but a preventable injustice.
