Empowerment Hub for Teenage Mothers

Once upon a time was a girl called Lilian from Homabay She enrolled for our project this Year in January 2019,  The following is HER STORY

My story

I come from a vulnerable family with a single mum after my parents separated because of domestic violence and alcohol abuse. I was is born in a family of eight children and I am the third born in our family. My mum has a small business of selling clothes or homemade soaps during market days in our village in Dhiwa. I dropped out of school in class 8 due to lack of school fees and got pregnant at the age of 15 years. I have a two-year daughter who lives with my aunt whom I was helping with house chores during my pregnancy and after I delivered. I had to seek refuge at her place after my father discovered I was pregnant. I have Constantly experienced emotional abuse several times, one day my father hit me with a machete and made me flee to safety at my aunt’s place the scar always reminds me of that bad experience and struggles as a young girl who made a mistake of getting pregnant as teenager. Until today I has never gone back to our home since the incident but am hopping one day, I will be able to forgive my father and reunite with them. At my aunties place it has never been that easy too even though she tried all the time to provide for me and my child.

I came to know about this program initiated by Community Focus Group from a friend, I had lost hope in life and had tried to find ways to go back to school but it was all in vain. At first, I didn’t have confidence that I can learn the skills in 6 months and be able to use the skill and earn a living. Even i asked my trainer if its possible. I was so raw in hair dressing but still I had a passion. Since an opportunity had presented itself, I decided to take up the challenge and make the best out of the opportunity and my time.

Impact

This program has been an eye opener to me as a teen mother that everything is possible. The only thing you need to do is to believe in yourself and take any opportunity that has given you to learn a skill for your own good. After the six month I have learnt a lot in hairdressing skills like braiding, hair treatment and set, hair weaving, dreadlocks and many more. My self-esteem and confidence have improved and I feel like I am a new person. Now I have good communication skills and I have learnt to handle clients and ensure their need are met adequately am grateful that sometimes we are given a commission from every client we have attended too. Am a changed person and I believe my dreams will come true one day.

With Your support we are Transforming Lives One at a time

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Sincerely

Pamela Ateka

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