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 > Poor Birthing Pra... > Sili Bati Yadav

Sili Bati Yadav



The combination of heavy work that Sili performed both during and after her pregnancy and the actions of the birth attendants during her labor probably equally contributed to her uterine prolapse.

During the delivery, the birth attendants were pressing on her back with their legs. Only two or three days after giving birth, Sili returned to doing her normal housework.  After only six days, she returned to fieldwork. This is when Sili first noticed that something was wrong.

It is quite possible that even though Sili noticed the prolapse while doing work, it actually happened during the delivery. Her prolapse occurred when she was only 18 years old. She is 47 now and has endured her condition for almost 30  years with no treatment.  

Sili told the birth attendants who had helped her during her labor about her symptoms. They did not know what to do and only referred her to other attendants who might be able to help. Her mother-in-law was also unable to help, as she had never had this problem.

Without the help and information she was looking for, Sili did not do anything about her problem. Up until a year ago, Sili did not even know that treatment was available. Sili has not had treatment yet, because her husband says that he has no money to pay for the cost of treatment. However, her neighbors have offered to take up a collection to contribute to the cost of surgery.

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