"When I first volunteered, it caused problems with my husband; he felt that I was neglecting my role in the home as a wife and mother".
Kadajata used to be a volunteer for AMPF, our Member Association in Mauritania. She would try and educate the community about family planning and encourage them to come to the clinic and visit the women’s centre.
"I enjoyed being a volunteer for AMPF, I felt proud that I was doing something to help my community".
"My husband tried to stop me from visiting the clinic and to make me stay at home more. This upset me".
The clinic director went to her home to speak to her husband about the importance of her work and encouraged him to allow her to carry on.
He told her husband that her work was essential and that it was effective to have local, ordinary women going out into the community educating people about family planning and child spacing, as people in the community are more likely to heed advice from a peer rather than an outsider.
Kadajata's work made the community healthier, wealthier and stronger.
This made Kadajata's husband realize how important her role as a volunteer was to the community.
He was proud that his wife was doing such beneficial work and it made him want to help the community.
He asked the clinic director if he could find him a volunteer position as well.
Now Kadajata’s husband is working away from home and she has a paid job as a nurse for AMPF.
"I am very pleased that I get paid for my work helping people. It is important for me to earn my own money, it gives me more freedom and more influence in making decisions in the home.
My experiences as a volunteer gave me the skills and confidence to become a nurse".