Train 100 Young Teen Mums to Gain Skills in Kenya

Year :2021 Cohort: 3 County: Homabay Background The Train 100 girls project  is a program that was designed and implemented by Community Focus Group since March 2018 and has contributed a lot in the lives of teen mothers in Homabay county and other counties. The program’s main objective is to develop skills of teen mothers who have dropped out of school by imparting them with skills on hairdressing, tailoring, beauty, catering, basketry and jewelry making.

The process and the training have brought a lot of change in the lives of teen mothers who have lost hope in life. So far CFG has trained two cohorts in Homabay county from 2018 which included six participants from Homabay county. Homabay 2021 Cohorts In 2021 homabay selected 2 teen mothers to join the training on hairdressing at Elegance salon in Oyugis town. They began their training on the 23rd March 2021 after their orientation by their instructor Pamela. Melvin and Sweery were grateful to join the skill development training after having a difficult experience as teen who dropped out of school.

They joined the training on the 23rd March 2021 with no experience on hairdressing but with the zeal to learn and be productive participants. One of the girls joined when her self esteem was very low and it took her time to become social and start opening up due to traumatic experience that she encountered, being sexually abused that led to her pregnancy. So far, there has been a lot of improvement in their communication skills and their self-esteem has increased. In addition, there has been some progress in their skills development. They can now wash and blow-dry hair well and crotchet artificial dreadlocks. They are still practicing making corn rows and weaving which needs a lot of practice to learn. They believe their passion and commitment to learn the skill will yield results at the end of the six months

The heart of our challenge since the onset of the global pandemic has been to continue our critical work, supporting and  training teenage mothers helping them forge sustainable livelihoods at a time  where COVID-19 has complicated nearly every decision. Lockdowns, supply shortages, and lack of funding 

As schools in Kenya  have opened and reports show that during the lockdowns , many school going girls became teenage mothers , its time to begin work again and this time to build back better.

With Over 50,000 teenage girls ,who have become teenage mothers its time together with your support begin our work again

For the very first time in a long time the world has the same problem -Covid-19 and its Impact has been felt in the lives of over 50,000 teenage girls in Kenya , most of the teenage pregnancies during the quarantine period were outcomes of Rape ,and sexual violence and now the lives of 13 -17 years old girls dreams of finishing school have been shattered. Our train 100 girls project targets young teen mother who have dropped out of school in different counties ( Nairobi, Homabay and Kajiado counties of Kenya.

The goal of the project is to equip the young girls with skills and expertise to enable to earn a living and transform their lives. Let me tell you a STORY........

Susan was born in a family of 4 and she is the third born in the family. Her father passed on when she very young. She dropped out of school at the age of 11 after she got pregnant. The child passed on a month later after birth of which no explanation was given to her because she was young and experiencing post natal depression. She was later taken to her Aunt’s place to work as a house help since her mother is a widow and unemployed and could not support her and her sibling.

Currently she is residing with her Aunt who has taken her in to work for her until she becomes stable and be independent. Susan embraced Community Focus Group initiative because it will give her an opportunity to build her skills and have bright future a head and become independent. And that is what happened when she completed her training in Hairdressing , she is self sufficient, she has been employed and now she is able to work with her hands because she learnt a skill for a lifetime through the support of you our partners

Covid 19 has worsened the situation of teenage pregnancies in Kenya.coronavirus disease outbreak in kenya has led kenya to the closure of learning institutions in Kenya and most economic activities.

With loss of livehoods especially in poor  families some children have been forced into income- generating activities to support their families survival.  School closure has stoppped provision of school meals and sanitary towels rely on significantly.  This raises the risk not only to acess this assential needs but to also support their family.

Some of the pregnancies could be a result of sexual violence which has been projected to rise during covid 19 lockdown at least its true judging from lessons learned during ebola outbreak  resulted in physical sexual violence, teenage pregnancies and unsafe abortions. 

The Ministry of health has estimated that from January to June 2020 , 50,000 girls have gotten pregnant in the 47 counties of Kenya

Community Focus Group has not been able to work on the project because of the lockdown and ban on gatherings in Kenya on the stay at home order , We hope to resume our project in september when the country opens up .