In Uganda like elsewhere around the world, Covid-19 has led to an increase in teenage pregnancy. In order to gain basic necessities like sanitary towels, girls have engaged in negative coping mechanisms like transactional sex with men who took advantage of their need for money. Teenage pregnancies, among other factors is increasing the number of girls not in school.
GEDA Uganda mid this year embarked on finding and profiling teenage mothers in Kasese District. Like else where in the country, Kasese is one of the Districts with high teenage pregnancies hence teenage mothers that have thereafter been abandoned
by the fathers to their children.
Asked what they would do to bring back hope, the teenage mothers GEDA Uganda had access to asked for skilling that would be a one off skill for them to earn a living. Tailoring, knitting and craft shoe making were identified as skills to be given to the teenage mothers.
For the last two weeks 47 teenage mothers that choose craft shoe making have been undergoing vigorous training by GEDA Uganda trainers. The happy and hopeful teenage mothers completed their skilling last week August 23rd 2021 with a ray of hope. Each trainee was able to complete atleast one pair of shoe. The skilling sessions were accompanied by inspirational talks by GEDA staff.
The teenage mothers have also been promised to be given start up kits for them to start a new life and GEDA Uganda will deliver them as soon as they’re ready.
Meanwhile another group of teenage mothers training in tailoring that started earlier is still under going training since that takes some time. The progress is promising and they will soon complete. GEDA Uganda donated a sewing machine to this group that will help them continue with trainings and earning a living even when the trainings are long ended.
It is our responsibility me and you to end child marriage, teenage pregnancies and GBV by performing our roles.
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