39 teen mothers who were impregnated at their childhood ages from Kigabiro sector, Rwamagana district have graduated in Tailoring as one of the supports by MFURA Foundation.
The teen mothers who have been acquiring hands-on skills in tailoring are the first batch of MFURA Foundation beneficiaries who started with the move last year in 2020.
MFURA Foundation helps teen mothers to cope with normal life through a free Vocational Training Programme in Tailoring, Job creation skills, Gender and Sexual Reproductive Health Education among others.
These teen mothers were given certificate of completion and new tailoring machines each, plus an amount of RWF1,950,000 as a startup capital to run their businesses in a new tailoring workshop where they will work as an association.
MFURA Foundation will be monitoring their activities during the first 12 months.
Marie Clarisse MFURAYABO, Founder and Country Director said that they plan to help the teen mothers to return to school as most of them drop out after being impregnated.
“We have a responsibility to protect the teen mothers and their children, ensure their wellbeing and knowledge development, it is the reason why we are planning to build an Early Child Development Centre (ECD) to help children of teen mothers learn at the same time when their mothers are acquiring TVET skills in tailoring.”
The organization, since its inception in 2019 is still using its own resources to provide teen mothers with a package of supports including free Vocational Training Programme in Tailoring, Job creation skills, Gender and Sexual Reproductive Health Education, food security and nutrition education where they managed to cultivate vegetables in the smart vegetable gardens.
She requested Rwamagana district officials to help these teen mothers get business deals in order to advance their activities.
Radjab Mbonyumuvunyi, Mayor of Rwamagana District said that local authorities help Mfura Foundation to identify these teen mothers and work hand in hand with them with other organizations to cater for these children.
“After they faced all the challenges including being abandoned by parents, we are partnering with MFURA Foundation to integrate abandoned teen mothers in their families and we proceed by helping them acquire vocational training skills to plan for the future economic development.”
MFURA Foundation ensures socio-economic reintegration and well-being of teen mothers in the society and facilitates their meaningful progress towards sustainable human development, inclusion and stability.
