Kabarore teen mothers get second chance through tailoring skills

At least 30 teenage mothers and 30 boys among the youth in Kabarore sector especially Simbwa, Kabeza, Karengeri and Marimba cells of Kabarore sector in Gastibo district will receive technical training in tailoring for next 6 – 12 months thanks to a new program by the Zakat Foundation of America in partnership with The Peace Maker Institute and Abdallah Kiromba Foundation.

The initiative inaugurated on Friday May, 24th/2024. Aims to empower young mothers and youth boys with tailoring skills so that they support themselves and their families after facing unplanned pregnancies.

The girls are part of the over 100 from Gastibo District who became pregnant in the last two to four years.

The first batch of 60 beneficiaries, are teen mothers will begin training on Monday at Leutrim Hoxha Tailoring Center for the next six to twelve months.

The Abdallah Kiromba Foundation and the American NGO equipped the training centre with over 30 new sewing machines and all the required materials.

Donat Niyonsaba, the president of the Abdallah Kiromba Foundation, said the project aims to empower both teen mothers and the youth with skills in order to take care of not only their babies but also themselves and their families.

“What happened to these teen mothers was like an accident, now we have equipped the centre with sewing machines, hired a trainer and all the necessary equipment to ensure that they have what it takes while training. This is an ongoing program and we look forward to offer them certificates after training as we continue to work with local district authority,” Niyonsaba said.

A UNFPA report indicates a worrying 23% rise in teen pregnancies in Rwanda between 2020 and 2021.

Elivy Ndayisenga, who is in charge of good governance in Kabarore Sector thanked Abdallah Kiromba Foundation for thinking about this program to empower teen mothers in Kabarore sector with tailoring skills.

Silvester Karemera, the trainer with over 30 years of experience, reminded the teen mothers that it is costly to pay for such training in private centre’s.

“This is an opportunity that you should take very seriously, since it’s free,” Karemera added.