Current Project: “You Still Matter”

This project recognizes that teen mothers are part of a broader family system. Often, when a girl gives birth prematurely, she is rejected by both her family and the father of the child. This project innovatively starts by addressing the mental health of the teenage mother, offering psychosocial support before introducing economic reintegration programs. This holistic approach strengthens her resilience and dignity.

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Sustainability and Long-Term Impact

“You Still Matter” is a community-based project owned and implemented by local stakeholders. The initiative is designed to promote long-term prevention by equipping parents, leaders, and institutions (especially religious groups in Bugesera) with the knowledge and tools to support and reintegrate teenage mothers now and in the future

Hope for a Good Life (HGL) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Rwanda. It began operating in 2018 and is officially registered with the Rwanda Governance Board under certificate number 350/RGB/NGO/LP/11/2018.

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Our Mission

To support individuals in overcoming difficult living conditions and their consequences in order to build a brighter future.

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Our Vision

A world where every person lives with dignity and reaches their full potential in society.

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Main Objectives

1. Community Development

• Provide counseling and reintegrate youth into society by supporting them with education, vocational training, and small income-generating projects.

• Support vulnerable women, especially adolescent and teen mothers, through small-scale projects that generate income.

• Fight poverty through the creation of small community development groups.

2. Support for Children

• Protect street and vulnerable children, alleviate their poverty, and support their rehabilitation by improving both their physical and mental well-being.

3. Peaceful Families

• Promote peace and harmony within families through conflict resolution and counseling services.

4. Research and Surveys

• Conduct research and assessments on the living conditions of vulnerable groups to inform targeted interventions.

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Current Project: “You Still Matter”

Overview:

Teen mothers face numerous challenges including:

• Health risks like complications during pregnancy (e.g., preterm births, low birth weight, high blood pressure).

• Interrupted education due to pregnancy and parenting responsibilities.

• Financial hardship caused by limited job prospects and incomplete education.

• Social stigma from peers, families, and communities.

• Emotional and mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness.

• Lack of support from families or communities.

• Limited parenting knowledge due to age and inexperience.

• Impact on the child, who may also face health, development, and social challenges.

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Overall Objective of the Project

To improve the living standards of teenage mothers in Bugesera by supporting their economic and social reintegration through transformative, solution-focused interventions.

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Specific Objectives

• Raise awareness among key community influencers (local government officials, religious and community leaders) about the importance of reintegrating teenage mothers.

• Train community-based facilitators to implement the “You Still Matter” project.

• Empower teen mothers economically through vocational training in tailoring, hairdressing, and pastry making (e.g., chapati, mandazi, and bread).

• Support families of teen mothers with counseling to encourage family acceptance and reintegration.

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Expected Results

• Community leaders are informed and actively engaged in preventing and addressing the challenges faced by teen mothers.

• Community facilitators are trained to lead and sustain the project.

• Teenage mothers receive vocational training and psychosocial support.

• Families of teen mothers are counseled and actively involved in reintegration efforts.

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Planned Activities

1. Sensitize 120 influential leaders on the reintegration of teen mothers.

2. Train 16 community facilitators in holistic social and economic transformation.

3. Train 60 teen mothers in vocational skills: tailoring (20), hairdressing (20), and pastry making (20).

4. Provide counseling to 480 family members of teen mothers.

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Measurable Indicators

• Number of influential leaders advocating for teen mothers.

• Number of teen mothers supported through the “You Still Matter” initiative.

• Number of teen mothers trained and receiving psychosocial care.

• Number of family members counseled and involved in reintegration efforts.

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Data Sources

• Monitoring and evaluation reports

• Testimonials and stories of change

• Feedback from local leaders and community members

• Input from families of teen mothers

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Risks and Assumptions

• Potential conflicts between the family of the teen mother and that of the child’s father.

• Many fathers are either imprisoned or have fled to avoid legal consequences.

• In some cases, the father's identity is kept secret due to informal agreements after payment between families.

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Innovative Aspects of the Project

This project recognizes that teen mothers are part of a broader family system. Often, when a girl gives birth prematurely, she is rejected by both her family and the father of the child. This project innovatively starts by addressing the mental health of the teenage mother, offering psychosocial support before introducing economic reintegration programs. This holistic approach strengthens her resilience and dignity.

________________________________________

Sustainability and Long-Term Impact

“You Still Matter” is a community-based project owned and implemented by local stakeholders. The initiative is designed to promote long-term prevention by equipping parents, leaders, and institutions (especially religious groups in Bugesera) with the knowledge and tools to support and reintegrate teenage mothers now and in the future.