"The accompaniment and exchange in the project strengthened me and gave me courage. Thanks to the training and my second-hand clothes shop, I can now look after myself and my child. Every month I put some money aside so that I can train to be a teacher in a few years. I want Valeria to be proud of me."
Khadija Iddi (18)
Khadija Iddi from Mwanza in Tanzania had to grow up overnight. "When I got pregnant at 16, I was expelled from school. That was bad for me, because I was a good student and wanted to study. I was desperate and lonely.Khadija remembers. Her older friend had promised her a better life, but left her pregnant. She is not the only one. Many girls from poor backgrounds in Tanzania get involved with older men. But many of them do not know how to protect themselves against unwanted pregnancies or sexually transmitted diseases. In Tanzania pregnant girls are immediately expelled from school. The young mothers are desperate and have no career prospects.
Thanks to our project Khadija received a Training position. She learned how to use a computer, how to create a business plan and learned to create a business plan. After the one year training she founded her own second-hand clothes shop. Today she earns enough money to finance her living. "I am proud that today I can provide for myself and Valerya."
With the vocational courses and the psychosocial support of our partner organisation, young mothers and their children are given the chance to build a future worth living.
The Corona crisis further aggravates the plight of the young mothers. We try to support, give advice online, inform about protection possibilities and distribute masks and soap.
Only together with you can the young mothers make it!
Thank you for helping to give young mothers a future worth living.
Small steps often have a big effect!
Mother and younger than 18
Every fourth girl in Tanzania becomes pregnant before the age of 18. Tanzania thus has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancies. Knowledge about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS is often insufficient. One in three women has also experienced sexual violence in the last year. However, sexuality is still a taboo subject.
Pregnant girls and young mothers are not allowed to attend school in Tanzania. They are bad role models, said President John Magufuli. More than half of the young mothers have a low level of education. The great poverty, the high HIV/AIDS rate and gender inequality make the young mothers' future even more difficult. It is hardly possible to break out of the cycle of poverty and lead a dignified life.
How we support teenage mothers
Desperate young mothers from poor families can strengthen themselves in our counselling centre in Mwanza, attend vocational training courses and receive coaching in setting up their own business. Many manage to finance their living with their own small business. Our partner organisation sensitises young people in schools to sexual health. In workshops they acquire knowledge about puberty, contraception and sexual violence. They learn how to protect themselves against sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS. Community members, teachers and parents are also sensitised so that they can support the young people. In this way we contribute to the reduction of early pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS and sexual violence. We also help to break the taboo on sexuality.
