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Break the Cycle, Build a Future for Teenage Mothers in Uganda
Project SummaryThe ‘Break the Cycle’ project supports 180 young mothers in Uganda's capital Kampala with education, psychosocial care and childcare. This gives them the chance to break the cycle of poverty and early motherhood and give their children a better future.
Background
‘’Everyone said my life was over. I was pregnant, alone, and drowning in shame.’’ Bridget, Teenage mother in Namuwongo
In Namuwongo, many teenage girls find their childhood cut short by pregnancy. Born into poverty and cycles of early motherhood, these girls face the huge challenge of raising children in an incredibly hostile setting while they are still children themselves.
Namuwongo is a densely populated ‘slum’ settlement in Uganda’s capital city, Kampala where over 15,000 residents face extreme poverty and a lack of basic services. In Uganda, 1 in 4 girls become pregnant before turning 18. In Namuwongo, teenage pregnancy rates are even higher due to overcrowding, peer pressure, child marriage, limited understanding of sexual reproductive health, exploitation and gender-based violence.
Most pregnant teens drop out of school, are abandoned by the father and disowned by their families, forcing them to parent alone. Teenage pregnancy not only limits a young mother's potential but also traps her children in the same cycle of poverty and limited opportunity.
Read moreIn Namuwongo, many teenage girls find their childhood cut short by pregnancy. Born into poverty and cycles of early motherhood, these girls face the huge challenge of raising children in an incredibly hostile setting while they are still children themselves.
Namuwongo is a densely populated ‘slum’ settlement in Uganda’s capital city, Kampala where over 15,000 residents face extreme poverty and a lack of basic services. In Uganda, 1 in 4 girls become pregnant before turning 18. In Namuwongo, teenage pregnancy rates are even higher due to overcrowding, peer pressure, child marriage, limited understanding of sexual reproductive health, exploitation and gender-based violence.
Most pregnant teens drop out of school, are abandoned by the father and disowned by their families, forcing them to parent alone. Teenage pregnancy not only limits a young mother's potential but also traps her children in the same cycle of poverty and limited opportunity.
Idea
‘’I cannot look away when I see young girls—some just 14—facing the unimaginable: abandoned, pregnant, and told their future is over. I know that isn’t true. I know that with the right support, a shattered life can be rebuilt.’’ – Immy Kiiza, Chance for Childhood Country Director, Uganda.
We are equipping mothers with the resilience, knowledge, skills, and opportunities they need to break the cycle of poverty. We're doing this by launching the award-winning ‘360° Intervention Model’ in Sub-Saharan Africa for the first time. The Model has successfully transformed the lives of thousands of teenage mothers in South America. A 2022 study of the model found that participant’s income doubled after graduating the programme, participants’ self-esteem increased by 27% and no teenagers experienced a repeat pregnancy while participating in the programme, which provides:
Read moreWe are equipping mothers with the resilience, knowledge, skills, and opportunities they need to break the cycle of poverty. We're doing this by launching the award-winning ‘360° Intervention Model’ in Sub-Saharan Africa for the first time. The Model has successfully transformed the lives of thousands of teenage mothers in South America. A 2022 study of the model found that participant’s income doubled after graduating the programme, participants’ self-esteem increased by 27% and no teenagers experienced a repeat pregnancy while participating in the programme, which provides:
- Psychosocial Support: trauma counselling and building resilience
- Rights Education: mothers know their rights and the rights of their child
- Training/Education: sexual reproductive health, micro business, vocational skills training or return to education
- Community Integration: re-establishing family ties and accessing local services
- Food and essential packs and on-site crèche: to address immediate needs
Implementation
But how can mothers engage in this intensive programme when they have a young child to care for?
Your donation today will help transform a room in our community facility into a crèche, where 180 babies and young children will be cared for by qualified crèche staff over the course of the programme. This will allow each teenager to participate fully in the programme knowing her child is safe and cared for.
We have a grant offer from a private funder that is conditional on raising match-funding to launch this project. Your donation today will help to unlock the grant and with it, urgently needed support for teenage mothers and their children. We plan to start work on the creche in January 2026.
Read moreYour donation today will help transform a room in our community facility into a crèche, where 180 babies and young children will be cared for by qualified crèche staff over the course of the programme. This will allow each teenager to participate fully in the programme knowing her child is safe and cared for.
We have a grant offer from a private funder that is conditional on raising match-funding to launch this project. Your donation today will help to unlock the grant and with it, urgently needed support for teenage mothers and their children. We plan to start work on the creche in January 2026.
Initiators
At Chance for Childhood, we believe that no child should have to fight for a safe, happy childhood. Yet millions of children in Africa are out of school, and often threatened by violence, neglect and conflict. We exist to ensure that every child in Africa can thrive from their early years through to adulthood. Together with partners, supporters, children and their communities, we protect, educate and create lasting change.
This project will be implemented by our team in Kampala who have been delivering high-impact projects in Namuwongo for 16 years.
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Read moreThis project will be implemented by our team in Kampala who have been delivering high-impact projects in Namuwongo for 16 years.
Website
There are no updates available
| Almira Tabakovic | 100,00 CHF |
| Anonymous | 2'000,00 CHF |
| Jill Buchanan | 200,00 CHF |
| Cristina Caporusso | 50,00 CHF |
| Angela Broder Nemeth | 250,00 CHF |
| Eva Curtis | 15,00 CHF |
| Vermittelt durch Swisscom | 260,00 CHF |
| Vermittelt durch Swisscom | 170,00 CHF |
Currently, there are still no project partners if you are interested, please contact us via info@there-for-you.com.
Status of the project
What amount would you like to use?
8 Supporters
62 days remaining
Major donor
Project supported by Swisscom
Impact analysis by there for you specialists
The project is impressive due to its clear impact approach and the close connection between psychological, social and economic empowerment. It is particularly noteworthy that it not only combats symptoms, but also addresses the structural causes of poverty and social exclusion – an approach that enables real change in the long term. The planned crèche also creates sustainable conditions for making education and independence accessible in the first place. Overall, the project shows how impact-oriented development cooperation can combine local knowledge with proven international concepts.
We will send the donation receipt (for Switzerland) in January of the following year.
Primary Partners
