MFURA Foundation urges parents of teen mothers to treat them responsibly

By Elias Hakizimana.

MFURA Foundation organization urged parents of teen mothers to help them to heal moral injuries instead of abandoning them with their little children.

The call was made on December 21, 2021 by Marie Clarisse Mfurayabo, Founder and Executive Director of MFURA Foundation while discussing challenging issues the teen mothers face when their parents abandoned them.

She was addressing to the parents of fifty teen mothers from different villages and cells of Kigabiro sector in Rwamagana district, Eastern Province during a one day training that brought together various concerned authorities in Rwamagana district.

Lack of parental education has been observed as the main accelerator to early pregnancies and it is why parents need special conversations reminding them of their responsibilities.

“Today we want to interact with you and see how to cope with trauma you face after seeing your daughters impregnated and see how to cater for them as well as your grandchildren born from them.” Said Marie Clarisse Mfurayabo, Founder and Executive Director of MFURA Foundation.

In 2020, the organization supported 40 teen mothers in tailoring and will support more 50 beneficiaries over the next twelve months.

All these activities will be conducted under MFURA Foundation’s project dubbed: “TUBARENGERE” whose objectives are to improve welfare of both teen mothers and their children.

Parent’s testimonies

Claudine Mukabaziga, one of the trained parents, said that the lessons she acquired will help her to change attitudes as she used to be aggressive and rude towards her daughter’s behaviours.

“I used to call my daughters “Prostitutes, etc.” but this training teaches me, I am healed at a certain extent and I was rude and aggressive against my children instead of giving them pieces of advice.” She said.

“My daughter gave birth at 16 in Primary school and it was difficult for me to understand, after I was trained by friends of the family, I tried to understand and support both children, I advise my fellow parents to look after their children and help them avoid lures that can lead them to being impregnated. I have not yet seen the man who is the perpetrator.” Said Felicien Mudahigwa, another parent.

Jeanne Umutoni, the vice mayor of Rwamagana district in charge of Social affairs told parents of the teen mothers to play good parental role in protecting all children against any form of violence.

“A parent should play his/her role everywhere and for every child. Our role as the government is to prevent early pregnancies through school initiatives and in the community through friends of the family as well as via radio spots. We expect this issue will take an end when we all work together to protect a child.” She said.