{"id":56026,"date":"2025-10-21T20:47:22","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T20:47:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/former-teen-mother-leads-initiative-to-restore-dignity-and-hope-for-others-in\/"},"modified":"2025-10-21T20:47:18","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T20:47:18","slug":"former-teen-mother-leads-initiative-to-restore-dignity-and-hope-for-others-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/former-teen-mother-leads-initiative-to-restore-dignity-and-hope-for-others-in\/","title":{"rendered":"Former teen mother leads initiative to restore dignity and hope for others in Kabuga"},"content":{"rendered":"

The programme is led by Elizabeth Ndinda, an education mission curator at the African Leadership University (ALU), who once faced similar challenges after becoming a mother at 19.<\/p>\n

Having experienced the weight of stigma and the struggle to continue her education, Ndinda said she felt compelled to create opportunities for other young mothers to rebuild their lives. <\/p>\n

\u201cI gave birth to my firstborn at 19, but I was supported to go back to school. That changed everything for me,\u201d she said. \u201cNow, I want to create the same opportunity for others, to help them dream and live their dreams, because they can.\u201d<\/p>\n

The initiative, launched to mark the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, 2025, brought together ALU students and community members in Kabuga. Participants provided mentorship sessions, essential household items, and a long-term plan to support the young women\u2019s education and personal development.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to make real change in these girls\u2019 lives and show them that they too are leaders,\u201d Ndinda said. \u201cWe have a three-month mentorship plan, and a three-year roadmap for those who wish to return to school or pursue higher education.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among the beneficiaries is 27-year-old Claudine Niyigena, who became a mother while still at home as a teenager. <\/p>\n

\u201cGiving birth while still at home as a teen is very challenging. You face rejection, drop out of school, and life becomes hard,\u201d she said. \u201cThis support makes me believe that people care. I still dream. I want to own a wholesale shop and live a sustainable life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cynthia Umuhoza, another beneficiary, echoed this sentiment. \u201cWhen you\u2019re young and pregnant, people judge you and discriminate against you. Meeting people who understand that pain gives us new strength,\u201d she said. \u201cI dream of owning a boutique one day and helping other girls who have been through what I faced.\u201d<\/p>\n

The initiative reflects the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child theme, \u201cThe Girl I Am, The Change I Lead.\u201d It emphasises that young women are not just recipients of support but also potential leaders and agents of change in their communities.<\/p>\n

For ALU student Natasha Uwase Muneza, participating in the campaign was transformative. \u201cMeeting these mothers showed me how much potential lies in compassion and community. Their resilience gives me more hope for Rwanda\u2019s future,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Nigerian ALU student Isoma Holyseed Victor, who joined the outreach, highlighted the importance of African-led solutions. <\/p>\n

\u201cToo often, Africans are told to look outside for help. But we can be our own saviours by understanding our people\u2019s struggles and creating solutions that come from within,\u201d Isoma said.<\/p>\n

Local leaders have also welcomed the initiative. \u201cWe are grateful for this support, but it\u2019s also a reminder that these girls are leaders too,\u201d said Janvier Sabato, Executive Secretary of Kabuga 1 Cell. \u201cThey must use this opportunity to change their lives and inspire others.\u201d<\/p>\n

What began as a small act of compassion is now shaping into a model for empowerment. Ndinda and her team plan to expand the initiative to other parts of Rwanda, building a network of mentorship and sisterhood that uplifts women who once felt left behind.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was lifted by women who believed in me, one even paid my school fees through university,\u201d Ndinda said. \u201cNow, it\u2019s my turn to lift others. It doesn\u2019t take much to change a life. We can all start with what we have.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
\"The<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A new initiative launched in Kabuga, Gasabo District, is helping young women who became mothers as teenagers regain confidence, education, and a sense of hope for the future. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131,"featured_media":2000096512,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[75],"byline":[170],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-56026","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","tag-homenews","byline-igihe"],"bylines":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"contributors":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"featured_image":{"id":2000096512,"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/pic-2-30.jpg","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":0,"height":0,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/pic-2-30.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/pic-2-30.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/pic-2-30.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/pic-2-30.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/pic-2-30.jpg","width":0,"height":0}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56026","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/131"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56026"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56026\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000096512"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56026"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56026"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56026"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=56026"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=56026"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}