The Mama Kay Foundation - Official Program Launch

Hello! Thank you for being here!

To Start: Who Are We?

The Mama Kay Foundation (Ltd.) is an NGO based in Kampala, Uganda, supporting adolescent single mothers and their children. We offer secure housing to displaced mothers, as well as specialized programs focused on education, vocational skilling, nutrition & wellness, childcare, leadership, and other empowerment opportunities.

Our center, Suubi House, will be located in Bunamwaya, Mukono, Uganda, where we will be housing our mothers and their children, opening our in-house medical center, conference space, program rooms and wellness space with 24/7 security.

Why Is It Important?

Uganda has one of the highest fertility rates in Africa, with over 50% of the population under the age of 30. 1 in every 4 Ugandan women, aged 15-19, have dropped out of school due to pregnancy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in the number of teenage pregnancies, leaving many young girls without a support system or the financial means of raising a child. The lack of healthcare access, a consistent partner, education, family support, and social stigmatization leave our mothers and their children vulnerable to conditions of poverty.

We visit our communities everyday and have witnessed the challenging conditions faced by adolescent single mothers. Our team has conducted multiple focus groups across various communities, speaking to the mothers themselves, allowing them to tell their stories and identify services that will best benefit them and their children.

Our programs are tailored based on primary data collected from these communities, establishing a base data surveillance of specialized needs for this population. Currently, there are very few programs aimed at providing medical or financial support to adolescent single mothers in Uganda.

Our Goals:

We hope to offer a place of security and comfort to our mothers and their children, reminding them that they are still capable of achieving their goals and attaining the education needed to advocate for themselves. Our girls are empowered, self-sustainable and exceptionally resilient. We are currently in the process of securing a location for Suubi House. As of now, our expenses include:

What Next?

As of now, our team operates from our permanent office space in Bunamwaya, Kampala. We provide care for our pilot group of 4-5 women by delivering supplies, childcare products, medications, groceries, and other necessities on a weekly or as-needed basis. We hope to enrol these women in secondary school in the coming January 2024 semester.

We are actively searching for a nearby central location to establish and open Suubi House. Once secured, we can begin to furnish our spaces and welcome our mothers into their new homes. Establishing security and consistency within the lives of our mothers is our primary goal, where we can then begin equipping them with program-based skills tailored to achieving their independence and financial security. We hope to fundraise in hopes of officially launching The Suubi House Project in April 2025.

We are looking for monetary donations to:

If you have any further questions, or would like to donate items such as clothes, sanitary products, childcare necessities, etc. please feel free to reach out at any of links listed below.

The first step to addressing the problem is spreading awareness, so even if you are unable to donate right now, please share our fundraiser to let others know about our initiative - tackling insecurity one share at a time. Thank you so much for taking the time to read, we are so grateful for your time and genuinely appreciate you!

Funding Breakdown:

https://www.canva.com/design/DAGcw38cGLo/-HvkCp1uf84n_LrjjFSChA/view?utm_content=DAGcw38cGLo&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h2ec9f670d7

Contact Us:

Website: www.themamakayfoundation.org

Instagram: @themamakayug

Twitter: @themamakayug

Facebook: The Mama Kay Foundation

More Information on Teen Pregnancy in Uganda:

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-pregnancy

https://uganda.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/teenpregnancy_factsheet_3.pdf

https://uganda.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/cost_of_inaction_report_on_teenage_pregnancy._final_print_ready._8.4.2022.pdf

Our Work & Our Girls:

Pictured: Cathy, counsellor, asking questions at focus group discussion at Ndejje Health Center IV.

Pictured: Group photo after focus group discussion at Ndejje Health Center IV.

Pictured: Vicky, 17, and Rama, 6 months, charismatic and witty, dreams of being a pilot.

Pictured: Vicky, 17, with baby Rama, and Bushira, 18, expecting her first baby in January.

Pictured: Joan, 17, sharing her thoughts during our focus group discussion in Masajja.

Pictured: Focus Group at Masajja Division Headquarters.

Pictured: Joan, 17, and her son, 1, speaks Swahili, English, dreams of being a fashion designer.

Pictured: Sumaiya, 18, and her son, 3, wants to go back to school and dreams of being a physician.