SEWING NEW FUTURES
EMPOWERING VULNERABLE TEENAGE MOTHERS IN MUSANZE, RWANDA
Since 2018, in partnership with Muhisimbi Voice of Youth in Conservation, we have been supporting vulnerable teenage mothers in the district of Musanze, Kinigi, Rwanda. Our mission is to empower young women and break the cycle of poverty by providing them with vocational training and the essential resources needed to thrive.
THE CHALLENGE
This initiative began with a group of 90 young women, aged 14 to 20, who were living in extremely vulnerable conditions. Without the support of their families, they would have dropped out of school, with no access to jobs, healthcare, or basic necessities like soap and food. These women and their children were left struggling, with no opportunities for a brighter future.
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We believe that educating and empowering women is crucial to lift entire communities out of poverty. Our partnership with Muhisimbi Voice of Youth in Conservation aims to amplify their efforts in reintegrating these women into the community, empowering them with vocational skills that enable long-term financial independence.
CONTINUING OUR MISSION AND SUPPORT THEIR JOURNEY
Our work is ongoing. A new group of young mothers has recently begun their training, and we continue to provide support by financing medical insurance, food, and sanitation throughout their vocational journey.
One way to contribute is by purchasing a beautifully handcrafted pouch, made by the graduates of the Ubuzima sewing center. This pouch, created in collaboration with Swissline, is available as a gift with online purchases. Each pouch represents the empowerment of women and symbolizes the fight against poverty for a better future.
You can also donate to help sustain this work.
OUR IMPACT
Thanks to the generous support of our donors and partners, we have been able to:
Rent a Place
Rent a place for the young mothers and their children.
Ensure Access to Healthcare
we cover healthcare needs by financing medical insurance.
Sponsor Vocational Training
with new sewing machines, materials, and a professional trainer, these young women have learned valuable sewing skills.
Supply Essentials
We provide food for the babies and sanitary supplies for the mothers.
A Story of Hope and Transformation
STORY TURAMYUMUKIZA ALPHONSIN
At 17, Turamyumukiza Alphonsin found herself in a difficult situation. After becoming pregnant, she had to leave secondary school, feeling hopeless and uncertain about her and her son's future. Like many other vulnerable teenage mothers in Musanze, she faced a tough reality with no opportunities for education or employment. Alphonsin's life took a turn when she joined UBUZIMA, the sewing center supported by Momentum Foundation and Muhisimbi Voice of Youth in Conservation.
There, she found a supportive community of young women with similar experiences, which gave her strength and a new purpose. Alphonsin’s passion for sewing, which had always been her hobby, became her path to a better life. Through vocational training, she not only improved her sewing skills but also gained the confidence to rebuild her life. Thanks to the project, she has been able to provide school uniforms and supplies for her son, which has helped restore her place in the community.
Today, Alphonsin is one of the team leaders at UBUZIMA, guiding other young women on their journey toward independence. But her dreams don’t stop there—she hopes one day to attend university and open her own shop, where she can sell the beautiful creations made at the sewing center.
