Mahabat had infused that young woman with encouragement and confidence that she could do it, and together they did!

All of these health conditions have multiple underlying causes, but poor dietary habits are high among the risk factors.

At the end of 2024, we ran a six week exercise program for Jordanian and Syrian women in Zarqa. The women who attended hadn’t had any connection with Operation Mercy in the past.

Soon Mohammed was back to a normal weight and Farzana was delighted to see her son playing again, standing and moving, and having an appetite.

“Most of the families in this village lack access to clean drinking water, and it is extremely difficult for our women and children to get water from a distance.”

Serving at Hope & Health has given our staff the opportunity to be make a difference in people´s lives in Skopje, in a way that can only happen over time.

Maftuna knew about the book through one of Operation Mercy’s community health trainers. She herself went through Operation Mercy’s general health and pregnancy lessons, as the trainers do not only work with the local women in the village but also the wives of Operation Mercy staff.

In one of the villages in the outskirts of Kabul, where Operation Mercy has a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) program, men’s groups eagerly receive their lessons.

The WASH project has taught us many valuable things, one of which being the necessity of having access to clean water, which can help us avoid many diseases.

In Afghanistan we have had the privilege of running a health programme in a number of communities where we train men and women on essential elements of nutrition and health during pregnancy and in the early formative years of a child’s life.

They started eating healthier foods, exercising regularly, and seeking medical care for their children.

The three staff workers assigned each of the participants to a coach. They were then given materials and taught how to share what they had learned with others.

Beka’s story is a powerful reminder of how knowledge, preparation, and confidence can transform the experience of childbirth. Through simple, practical education, women like Beka are empowered to face one of life’s greatest moments with strength and peace.