Support Rebekah's Healing Mission to Ghana
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Help support my travel mission to Accra, Ghana this spring to minister to women with obstetric fistulas at the Mercer Women's Catholic Fistula Unit!
Hello! My name is Rebekah Corbett and l am an African American woman who is extremely passionate about strengthening my relationship with God, exploring the African diaspora, and pursuing healing solutions to improve women’s health. I relish in the importance of spiritual healing through prayer and physical healing through the application of modern medicine. During this experience, I plan to explore the rich culture and terrain of Ghana, while learning about and supporting women who suffer from obstetric fistulas. Many women who suffer from this condition do not receive the medical care they need due to insufficient financial support, limited health care resources, as well as a lack of professional expertise to treat the condition.
Obstetric fistulas are wounds (fistulas) that form between the birth canal and bladder (vesicovaginal fistula) or the birth canal and rectum (rectovaginal fistula). These fistulas are most commonly obtained through childbirth, cancer, or surgical complications.
In Sub-Saharan and West Africa, more than 50% of women make up the global percentage of fistula cases. This condition introduces shame, pain, psychological trauma, social stigma, and social isolation into the lives of these women and their families. Ghana is home to Mercer Women's Catholic Fistula Unit, one of the largest fistula treatment centers in West Africa - where women from Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, and the Ivory Coast travel to receive transformative care.
By supporting my travel mission, you will help me fulfill my goals of further experiencing the vast African diaspora while serving others. Ghana is significant in my travels because of its rich culture, beauty, and historical connection to African Americans due to the transatlantic slave trade. In previous travels, I went to New Orleans, Louisiana and Loíza, Puerto Rico - two historically black regions in America. There, I learned about the arrival of enslaved West Africans and how their unique cultures transformed the landscape with distinct dishes, dances, music, attire, and ingenuity, evermore enriching those regions despite the oppression of slavery.
Having the privilege to travel the African Diaspora internationally will enrich my life and give me a greater appreciation of my African and American heritage. To help me achieve this beautiful opportunity, I aim to raise $3,000 for travel expenses to Ghana. Please help my ambitions become a reality and bless me so that I may bless others!
Please take a moment to educate yourself about some of the history of Ghana, and to learn about obstetric fistulas and its impact on women in West Africa. Thank you!
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Organizer
Rebekah Corbett
Organizer
Mount Holly, NJ