ROM’s supported Out-of-school girls shine at Safe Motherhood Conference
Martha Namatovu and Hannah Nadudu were once vulnerable out-of-school girls whose lives have been changed by ROM through the SHE SOARS Project with support from the Global Affairs Canada through Care International Uganda. In November, the two were part of the exhibitors at the International Safe Motherhood Conference held at Speak Resort Munyonyo.
Martha(left) and Hannah (right) attending to a customer during one of the exhibitions at ROM Mbuya site recently.
Hanna Nandudu is a 20-year-old out of school adolescent girl from Kinawataka, a slum community in Kampala, whose life story was positively changed by Reach Out Mbuya Community Health Initiative (ROM) through SHE SOARS, with support from the Government of Canada through CARE International.
While in senior three, Hanna became a young mother, but life became so hard that she could barely afford to provide for her baby, Hannah had to forge a way out to meet her basic needs and the only option was the doormat making business she had seen her mother do.
When she joined SHE SOARS to acquire knowledge on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights, Hanna got the opportunity to acquire tailoring skills during SHE SOARS vocational skilling sessions, her source of income today. She acquired a loan from SHE SOARS with which she bought her first materials. “With these skills, I can cut, assemble and do proper finishing on the fabric. This brings more returns to my doormat business.” Hanna added.
Hanna hopes to continue with tailoring and her dream is to stop hawking the doormats but use her annual savings to rent a shop from where she will be selling the products.
To ensure steady progress, Hanna has considered not to have any other baby before she is financially stable. She credits the ROM staff especially Anthony, a SHE SOARS Peer Educator who took them through reproductive health sessions which has been key in her journey to success.
“My baby is one and half years old and I have decided to wait until I financially stabilize. I obtained this information from our Peer Educator Anthony from SHE SOARS whose sessions I like as much”, Hanna says.
She uses her story to encourage other girls not to lose hope when they face similar challenges. “I always talk to my fellow girls to stay in school. Those who are out of school should be hard working and be able to make their own money, Hanna said.
Hanna is one of the 42 out of schoolgirls ROM has skilled through SHE SOARS.
