By Lucy Ndungu | Executive Director
The last six months at Hope for teenage Mothers have largely been a period of learning and discovery. I have visited many homes for the teenage mums who are within our project areas.
The gap in the underserved teenage mothers for generation of livelihood was re-affirmed and strongly legitimizes the need for Hope for teenage mothers programs. Currently there are 20 teenage mothers learning microfinance and entrepreneurship. Many more are waiting to start their training program from July. Learning from the past experience most the girls who benefited in the last years training are having small business that help them get a livelihood for themselves and their children.
One of the most popular training is the hairdressing. Some girls took up the course last year. Their graduation is happening in April after attachment period .The girls aspires to set up their small saloons, others will get jobs at the existing saloons within their community areas and the outskirts of the city.
While discussing with the teenage mothers during my visits many stated that the main benefits of the business include: ability to engage in income generating activities; ability to diversify their economic activities and that they are able to make small savings and to have ready access to these savings in times of need.
I am therefore committed to making Hope for teenage mothers an organization of choice for those teenage mums who are stigmatized, hopeless and wish to transform their lives through empowerment of starting up small income generating activities. The need to fundraise to support the training which is free for the young women cannot be overstated. It is my belief that the support of the well wishers and friends shall remain enthusiastic at this critical moment.
This is driven by my personal belief that teenage pregnancy contributes to poverty and this needs to be tackled not just as urgent economic issue of our times. Rather it is more compelling as a basic human right.
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