By Thereza Nalumansi | M&E Officer, Act 4 Africa
In the past few months, the gradual change in the lives of the young mothers we are working with has been amazing. We are impressed with the journey they have started on to become strong -willed, resilient young women with such a determination to make their lives better. Their confidence levels have shot up to the extent that they have started trying out things they initially could not envision. They are taking charge of their lives and are now able to make decisions concerning their sexuality without coercion.
We bring the stories of young mothers who are evidence that, with access to the right information and environment, everyone has the power to turn their lives around. The stories below are a testament to how the well-being of these young mothers has totally improved as a result of psychosocial support, sexual reproductive health, and livelihood sessions offered by Act4Africa.
Faith, a 24-year-old mother of three, is the third and youngest wife in her marriage. At enrollment, she was devastated because her husband was not providing for the needs of the home, yet she was a housewife with no source of income. Act4Africa’s training sessions on mental wellbeing and livelihood have completely turned her into a much better person. She discovered her potential as a young woman, and the desire to lead a better life motivated her to save money that she used to start her fish business in the village, which she started with only 30000. Her capital has now increased to 70000, and she is not only able to feed her children but is also able to pay school fees for them. What a great joy she has!
Another inspiring story is of a young mother named Sharifa who was going through depression before joining Act 4 Africa. Her baby was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth, a condition that has required extra financial and physical support that she did not have, having been abandoned by the baby’s father. The community had advised her to poison her child to end his suffering, which made her want to end her own life as well. Through Act4Africa’s training sessions on stress management, motherhood, and individual counseling sessions, she was encouraged to accept the situation and regain value for her life. She narrates that she was freed from all the stress she had been carrying, and purposed to love her child as he is. The boy is healthier now than he was before. We delight in the fact that Sharifa can now afford to smile.
“I did not get a chance to go to school as a child, and this has been painful all my life. Learning how to write my name at Act4Africa, and sitting in a tailoring class where writing is required has shown me that there is such untapped greatness in me and that I have a bright future ahead,” Narrated 18-year-old Kisakye.
Your support has enabled Act4Africa reach, rescue and restore the broken hearted. It is helping us on this journey of turning stories of desperation into stories of hope. Thank you so much
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