A Voice For the Voiceless

The Advocacy Project helps marginalized communities to tell their story, claim their rights and produce social change. We recruit graduate students to volunteer as Peace Fellows with partners.

The Impact of Service



"Speaking with locals and living in a country is the best way to learn about the real lives of citizens, not just the stories in the mainstream media. I will be more critical of what I read as a result of this experience. I also feel even more grateful for my education, and I feel a stronger responsibility to assist others who do not have resources or access to opportunities in their communities."

Maria Skouras (New York University) volunteered in 2011 as a Peace Fellow for eHomemakers in Malaysia.

For more 2011 feedback click here.

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Partner Campaigns > Women's Repro... > Women at Risk > Secrecy/Stigma > Goulab Devi Ram

Goulab Devi Ram

Goulab is keeping her problem with uterine prolapse a secret from her husband. She is afraid her husband will leave her because of stories she has heard from women in other villages. There is stigma in her village, and she is concerned that people will believe women get uterine prolapse because they do not treat their husbands right.

Goulab is now 35 years old and has been married for 20 years. She had her first child at the age of 20and her second at 25. Two to three years after the birth of her second child, Goulab’s prolapse occurred.

While lifting wood in the forest, Goulab felt pain in her abdomen. Her prolapse has become worse over time, and she has pain, difficulty walking, and weakness. She has also had to restrict the amount of food that she eats.

Goulab learned about uterine prolapse through a NGO that she used to work for. If it was not for this, she would not speak about the issue.

Now Goulab is making some money and hopes that a pessary ring will hold her uterus in place and help alleviate her symptoms. She is determined to prevent the same condition in her daughter. Goulab says that she won’t marry her daughter early, she will make sure that her daughter has a good diet while pregnant, she will make sure her daughter delivers in an institution, and her daughter will not lift heavy loads after giving birth.

Even though Goulab knows how to prevent uterine prolapse and talks about the issue freely, she is still afraid of telling her husband about her problem.

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