“Teen mothers need care and support during COVID-19 crisis” — MFURA Foundation
By Elias Hakizimana.
Impregnated teen mothers who started a tough experience of raising children at their early age are among the vulnerable categories of the population who need care and support during COVID-19 crisis according to MFURA Foundation.
MFURA Foundation is a local Non-Government Organization based in Rwamagana District, Eastern Province and currently supports over 40 vulnerable young mothers who were impregnated at their teen age.
After hearing and counseling them, the organization helps them to cope with normal life through a free Vocational Training Programme in Tailoring, Job creation Skills, Gender and Sexual Education among others.
Most of these young mothers are living with their parents while others are single household leaders after being rejected by their families.
Marie Clarisse Mfurayabo, Founder and Country Director of MFURA Foundation said that these teen mothers are among the most vulnerable people who need much attention, care and support.
“Since I started our humanitarian activities in 2019 in Kigabiro Sector, Rwamagana district, I managed to support 40 teen mothers with a couple of services including free Training in Tailoring, Gender and Sexual Education besides hearing and counseling them through the programme dubbed “NGANIRIZA NKUGANIRIZE” Or “Talk to Me I talk to You.” as many of them have mental and psychological challenges. Teen mothers are indeed the most vulnerable people and we all need to help them especially during this period of COVID-19 crisis.” Mfurayabo told The Inspirer.
The first session of 40 teen mothers was expected to graduate in December, 2020 but COVID-19 became a challenge according to Mfurayabo.
She said that teen mothers continue to attend practical training courses by complying with COVID-19 preventive measures. Before COVID-19, they used to attend three days a week and the organization increased the number of days to five so that they keep physical distancing.
“We expected to close the first session of tailoring course in December, 2020 but we pushed it in February, 2021. It increased the cost of activities but we expect a normal progress after Covid-19.” She noted.
MFURA Foundation is still limited by financial capacity to support a big number of teen mothers because there are hundreds of them with similar problems.
“COVID-19 stopped some of the activities of the organization, we plan to close first session of tailoring course in February, 2021 and equip the graduates with the machines and pay for them a work place rent for three months. They will work as a cooperative under the close supervision of MFURA Foundation during the first 12 months.” Mfurayabo said adding that this additional support will help them to adapt to the labour market.
Call for Government, Donors’ interventions
Mfurayabo said that she wishes to help the government reduce the burden of vulnerable dependents in the areas of food security, education and to avoid the increase of street children but the challenge remains financial capacity.
“We need to increase mobilization campaigns to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the rural areas where we work from as they have not yet managed to fully comply with the prevention measures; we also have teen mothers who need support like food and hygiene commodities, the majority of them provide for their children after working and nowadays they are jobless. I request the government, donors and everyone with a good will to support our initiative.” Mfurayabo said.
MFURA Foundation ensures socio-economic reintegration and well-being of teen mothers in the society and facilitates their meaningful progress towards sustainable human development, inclusion and stability.
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