Book Review: Half the Sky

Reviewed by Paula Baasner

It is fitting that I am writing this book review on March 8th, 2025…International Women’s Day. This is a day celebrated annually to commemorate women’s fight for equality. Its focus is on issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse of women.

Half the Sky is a tough read. It is a brutally honest essay on the realities of girls and women around the world. It starts out with the message that anywhere around the world, being female is a strike against you. That is really depressing to think about as a woman. But when you read on, you realize that when women are empowered, there is no stopping them. When you help women, anywhere in the world, you create a ripple effect. When you help women, you can fight poverty.

Not far into the book, I had to stop reading. I wasn’t sure I could continue reading and learning about the brutal rapes of girls and women around the world. It was very upsetting to read. But then I realized, I need to be tougher than this. These girls and women have experienced such trauma; I need to understand their stories. That is the least I can do. So I continued reading.

In the stories featured in this book, these tortured and brutalized women stood up for themselves and made their part of the world better for women. Through their involvement in education, business, and healthcare, they have made things better for the women in their community. The book ends with important information like “4 Steps You Can Take in the Next 10 Minutes” to make a difference for women and girls.

The book title, Half the Sky, comes from the Chinese proverb: Women hold up half the sky. To me, this means women have power, influence, and importance in our world. I believe, as women, we need to use our power and influence to help women and girls worldwide. In the words of Indian activist Mahatma Gandhi, “you must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

If you would like to borrow this book or others related to Ethiopia and empowering girls and women, Shelley has a lending library you are welcome to use!  Please email her at shelley@momsethiopia.ca.

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Surgical Success Stories - #781-790

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Ribka
Ribka

Ribka has delivered three children and two of them are living after being pregnant four times. She had suffered for two years with prolapse and now has a new lease on life.

Desite
Desite

Desíte has been pregnant six times. She had one miscarriage and has five children. She had experienced prolapse for one year and is now free of this issue!

Palsate
Palsate

Palsate has delivered seven children but only three are living. She has only suffered from prolapse for 4 months but is so happy to be free of this problem. Thank you for helping her.

Buruchuku
Buruchuku

Buruchuku is 60 years old and a widow. She has been pregnant seven times and delivered six children at home, five of whom are still living. She had suffered from prolapse for more than five years but is now free of this issue. Thank you for restoring her dignity!

Aberash
Aberash

Aberash is 35 years old and married with seven children. Her prolapse had been bothering her for the past year, but it is now a thing of the past, and her future is bright as she starts a new chapter in life.

Belaynesh
Belaynesh

Belaynesh is 55 years old and a widow with just one living child after giving birth to four. Her prolapse had been bothering her for the past year - and is now a memory.

Botane
Botane

Botane is 65 year old with eleven children! She’s widowed and her prolapse had been bothering her for five long years before going to get help from the team at Soddo Christian Hospital.

Almaz
Almaz

Almaz is a widow who has delivered seven children, five of whom are still living. She had her prolapse for one year and is now recovering well!

Obite
Obite

Obite is a widow who has delivered six children who are all still living. She had her prolapse for three years but is now free of this issue.

Aberash
Aberash

Aberash is only 28 years old and is married with three children. Her prolapse came up about one year ago and had become quite severe. Her surgery went smoothly and she’s now home and resting.  

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Surgical Success Stories - #771-780

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Featured
Konjit
Konjit

Konjit is 35 years old and has five living children after giving birth to six. She was widowed at a young age and has been struggling with prolapse for the past year. She went home with a new lease on life and a smile on her face.

Aster
Aster

Aster is 40 years old and married with five living children after giving birth to seven. She’s had her prolapse for the past two years. She had some unique medical challenges but is now on the road to recovery after her surgery.

Kele
Kele

Kele is 50 years old and widowed with two children after giving birth to four. Her prolapse had been bothering her for the past four years but she now prolapse-free and heading home.

Baldade
Baldade

Baldade has suffered from prolapse for more than 10 years. She is a widow who has been pregnant nine times, delivered six children and only three are still living. She is grateful to no longer be suffering from this condition.

Sinkenesh
Sinkenesh

Sinkenesh had suffered from prolapse for one year and is grateful to have received this life-changing surgery. She had been pregnant six times and all of her children are still living.

Meseret
Meseret

Meseret is a widow who had been suffering from prolapse for two years. She was pregnant seven times and has five living children. Thank you for helping her!

Ayelech
Ayelech

Ayelech had suffered from prolapse for five long years. She has been pregnant 10 times and delivered 10 children, 7 of whom are living. She has now been given a new lease on life.

Balote
Balote

Balote is a widow who has been pregnant 11 times. She delivered 10 children, nine of whom are still living. She is now free from prolapse thanks to your support.

Birhanesh
Birhanesh

Birhanesh has been pregnant eight times and delivered six children, five of whom are still alive. She had suffered from prolapse for one year before her surgery.

Abayinesh
Abayinesh

Abayinesh has delivered five children and four are still living. She had suffered with prolapse for two years but now is home and healing!

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Surgical Success Stories - #761-770

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Surgery Recipient
Surgery Recipient

This beautiful woman is 50 years old, widowed, and living with her six children (after giving birth to seven). She’s been suffering for the last two years with prolapse and was so, so happy to be admitted for surgery. She has now gone home a changed woman!

Balaynish
Balaynish

Balaynish is 50 years old and living with her seven children after giving birth to eight. She is married and has been suffering wiht prolapse for the past two years. She is now home and prolapse free!

Folate
Folate

Folate is 55 years old and widowed. She has given birth to eight children and seven are still living. Her prolapse had been part of her life for the past year - but no more!

Workinesh
Workinesh

Workinesh is 50 years old and lives with her husband. She has four living children. Her prolapse had been bothering her for two years but now it will just be a memory.

Tadelech
Tadelech

Tadelech is 40 years old and lives with her husband and four children. Her prolapse presented itself six years ago and now she’s home and prolapse free!

Alane
Alane

Alane is 55 years old and widowed with nine children and LOTS of grandchildren. Her prolapse had been with her for the past five years and she now has a new lease on life.

Balote
Balote

Balote is widowed and has 10 children. She says that her prolapse had been with her for the past THIRTY years. The doctors aren’t sure how accurate that is, but it’s certain that she’s been suffering for a very long time - but not anymore! Thank you for helping her!

Ayelech
Ayelech

Ayelech is 55 years old, married, and has four living children after giving birth to seven. After a year of suffering with her prolapse, her surgery went very smoothly and she is recovering at home.

Ashore
Ashore

Ashore lives with her husband and five children. She’s been burdened over the last five years with her prolapse and we’re so grateful that she’s home and recuperating nicely.

Demekech
Demekech

Demekech is 30 years old and has eight children. She’s been suffering for the past year which is even harder because she is a widow. She is now free from her suffering - thank you for helping her!

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Surgical Success Stories - #751-760

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Featured
Makibe
Makibe

Makibe has four living children after giving birth to seven. She is widowed and had been suffering from prolapse for one year before her surgery. Thank you for helping her!

Balote
Balote

Balote is 49 years old, widowed, and living with her six children. Her prolapse had been bothering her for one year and she’s now home and recovering as a new woman.

Woyize
Woyize

Woyize is 55 years old, widowed, and has two children. Her prolapse had been troublesome for just over a year and she left a changed woman!

Ukume
Ukume

Ukume is 64 years old and is living with her seven children as a widow. It’s been a long five years burdened with her prolapse. She traveled home a transformed woman!

Bekelech
Bekelech

Bekelech had struggled with her prolapse for six years but has now returned home to her six children with a new lease on life.

Mulunesh
Mulunesh

Mulunesh is 55 years old and had 10 children but sadly, only four have survived. Her prolapse had been plaguing her for the last five years but she is now prolapse-free and headed home to recover.

Eribka
Eribka

Eribka is 40 years old, married with eight children. her prolapse had been bothering her for the past year but now she is home and prolapse-free.

Dinknesh
Dinknesh

Dinknesh is 60 years old, widowed and has six children. Her prolapse had been a part of her life for three years but that is now a think of the past. She went home with a huge smile on her face!

Eyerusalem
Eyerusalem

Eyerusalem is the youngest patient the doctors have seen with prolapse. She is only 18 years old and had severe prolapse for three years. She had a successful surgery that preserved her ability to have children. She was so, so grateful for this outcome and finding out that her surgery costs were sponsored. Thank you for helping her!

Mekides
Mekides

Mekides is 45 years old, married, and has four children after giving birth to seven. Her prolapse had become quite severe in the past year but she is now back home with her family after a successful surgery!

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Surgical Success Stories - #741-750

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Featured
Felekech
Felekech

Felekech has delievered seven children and five are still living. She is now prolapse free and will soon be discharged to be with her husband. Thank you for helping her!

Bizunesh
Bizunesh

Bizunesh has been pregnant eight times and delivered eight times, with four of them still living. She had prolapse for a year before her surgery.

Bizunesh
Bizunesh

Bizunesh (two Bizuneshs in a row!) has eight children and been suffering from severe prolapse for one year. Her surgery was a bit more involved but ended up with an excellent outcome!

Halishe
Halishe

Halishe is married with only one child after giving birth to five. Her prolapse had been bothering her for TEN long years. Today she is a new woman without prolapse and ready to start her new life.  

Faranje
Faranje

Faranje is 40 years old and married with five children. Her prolapse had been bothering her for a year but is now at home and recovering from successful surgery.

Workinesh
Workinesh

Workinesh is 55 years old and widowed with six living children. She has been suffering for over the past year but is now back home, resting as a new woman.

Tanebe
Tanebe

Tanebe is widowed and has four living children. Her three-year struggle with prolapse is behind her now. Thank you for helping her!

Lankare
Lankare

Lankare is 60 years old and widowed with six children. Her surgery went smoothly and she is now resting at home.

Adanech
Adanech

The doctors say that Adanech is quite a character! She is 50 years old, widowed, and living with her six children. Her surgery had to be postponed due to malaria but she was determined to see it through. She has now successfully had surgery and was literally yelling, “Hallelujah!” in the OR!

Demekech
Demekech

Demekech says she is 35 years old (the doctors believe she may be slightly older) and lives with her husband and five children. Her surgery was challenging but she is slowly recovering and headed home soon.

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Surgical Success Stories - #731-740

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Almaz
Almaz

Almaz says she is 40 years old (the doctors think probably more like 55) and married. She’s given birth to 13 children and still has 12 alive! She’s been suffering the last two years but is now with her family at home.  Before she left, her husband came by the clinic to express his deep gratitude to the team as well as ALL of you! He was so appreciative and thankful for everyone’s generosity and kindness.

Ayene
Ayene

Ayene had suffered from severe prolapse for three years. She has been pregnant eight times and delivered six children, two of whom are still living. She is very grateful to no longer have the prolapse which had troubled her for so many years.

Anarech
Anarech

Anarech is married and has delivered nine babies after being pregnant 11 times. Six of her children are still living and she has suffered from severe prolapse for three years. Thank you for making such a big difference in her life!

Shalate
Shalate

Shalate has delivered four children but only one is still living. She had suffered from prolapse for seven years but is now free!

Aster
Aster

Aster has delivered four children and three are still living. She had suffered from prolapse for six years before her surgery. Thank you for helping her!

Makiba
Makiba

Makiba has delivered six children and only two are still living. She had prolapse for four years but how has a new lease on life.

Dae
Dae

Dae is a widow who has suffered from prolapse for two years. She has delivered six children and five are still living. She underwent successful surgery to correct her prolapse and is recovering well!

Beletch
Beletch

Beletech is married and has delivered five children with four of them still living. She had prolapse for one year until she underwent surgery to correct this problem. She’s doing great postoperatively and is so very grateful and happy.

Amaresh
Amaresh

Amaresh is married and has given birth to six children, five of whom are still living. She had suffered with severe prolapse for one year. Her surgery was challenging but successful. She is so very grateful to no longer have her prolapse.

Gistane
Gistane

Gistane has delivered one child and has suffered from prolapse for five years. She is now prolapse free!

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Surgical Success Stories - #721-730

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Featured
Ayelech
Ayelech

Ayelech is 50 years old and widowed. Tragically, she only has one living child after giving birth to nine. Her prolapse had been burdening her for over a year but she now has a new lease on life.

Mihiret
Mihiret

Mihiret Desta is 32, has one child and is married. The doctors had been following her conservatively over the last year and she decided that it was time for surgery!  It went really smoothly and she was able to go home with a smile on her face.

Askale
Askale

Askale is 55 years old, is widowed and has two children. Her prolapse had been bothering her for four long years and she is now home and prolapse free!

Tarame
Tarame

Tarame is widowed with six children after giving birth to eight. Her prolapse became quite severe over the past year. She is thankful to be home and recovering from successful surgery.

Nigist
Nigist

Nigist lives with her husband and 5 children. She’s around 40 years old and has had her prolapse a little under a year. She’s now prolapse free and headed home!

Surgery Recipient
Surgery Recipient

This surgery recipient is married with five children. She said she is 40 but the doctors think she’s a bit older than that. Her prolapse first came to her attention thee months ago and is now taken care of!

Ayelech
Ayelech

Ayelech is 60 years old and widowed with six children. Her prolapse has been bothering her for a year and she’s now home and recovering after a very successful surgery.  

Alemitu
Alemitu

Alemitu is 44 years old and widowed with six living children after giving birth to seven. Her prolapse had been bothering her for four long years before going to Soddo Christian Hospital.

Purune
Purune

Purune Guto has quite a story!  She’s 51 and married with TEN children!  The doctors have been managing her for the last two years with a pessary but she became tired of it and wanted surgery. The problem was - every time they took her to the operating room she developed a fever. They had to delay her surgery a few times and now… she FINALLY had her surgery! No fever - and it went very well! She’s now home and recovering. (Sadly, no photo to share!)

Turunge
Turunge

Turunge is widowed with two living children after giving birth to six. Her prolapse had been troubling her for six years. She’s now free of her prolapse on and her way home to continue to recover.

Shelley & Helmy's Ethiopia Trip 2024: Prolapse Surgeries

Meeting with and hearing the stories of women who have had surgery for a prolapsed uterus is always incredibly moving, inspiring and motivating to continue fundraising so we can provide the funds needed to change other women’s lives.

The women both spoke of the physical pain, social isolation, psychological struggle and despair they felt. One of the women told Helmy and Shelley, “I have had a significant change in my life. I used to be in bed and could not go to church or the market. I could not work around my house and I did not want to be with my husband. Now I feel young and I am no longer carrying a very heavy load. I can go where I want to go and I have interest in my life again.”