Break the Cycle has officially launched
Thanks to the generous support of many individuals and organisations (including our wonderful there-for-you donors) we are happy to share that our "Break the Cycle" project is now live. Our project team in the informal settlement of Namuwongo in Kampala held an event to launch the project in the local community. The event was attended by 550 people including local leaders, partner organisations and community members including the teenage mothers and their infants/babies who are taking part.
Our team is getting to know the young mothers who have joined the project including two mothers, Balinda and Mirembe who have given us permission to share their stories and hopes for the future.
Balinda’s Story
Balinda (17) lives in Namuwongo with her mother and three siblings. While her mother worked hard to provide for the family, they often struggled to pay school fees, so Balinda missed school frequently and eventually dropped out. Without enough information on health and rights, she became pregnant at 15.
As a young mother, Balinda faces stigma from her peers and extreme poverty makes providing for her baby a constant struggle. However, Balinda is very optimistic about joining the project. Having childcare on-site is vital for her. It means she can focus on her training. She hopes to learn how to run a business.
Most of all, Balinda says, "I look forward to feeling loved by other people." Along with 45 other mothers who understand what she is going through and the challenges she faces, she hopes she finds this sense of belonging she is looking for.
Mirembe’s Story
Mirembe (19) lives in Namuwongo with her mother and five siblings. She never had the chance to attend school. When she was 17 the family's extreme poverty led to Mirembe being exploited. A recruiter promised her a well paid job in Kampala as a housemaid. Instead she was forced to work in a bar and coerced into an unwanted relationship. Fearing for her safety, she fled back to Namuwongo, and soon after, discovered she was pregnant.
The trauma of the exploitation affected her self-esteem. Today, Mirembe is very isolated. She and her mother work odd jobs and do laundry for other families often earning just $4 per week.
Mirembe’s main motivation for joining us is her daughter’s health. Through the project, her daughter will receive nutritious meals and support at the on-site nursery. Mirembe hopes to train as a hairdresser during the second year of the project so she can support her family.
Thank you for donating to our project and helping to create a brighter future for teenage mothers and their children in Namuwongo.
