Uplifting Teen Mothers & Families

Usikimye’s Empawa Mama initiative (formerly Inua Jamii Bora) empowers teen mothers and mothers of teens through financial independence, breaking cycles of poverty and gender-based violence. By equipping women with entrepreneurship training, savings strategies, and business startup support, the program transforms livelihoods—enabling families to afford essentials like sanitary towels, launch income-generating ventures, and gain economic autonomy.

The program goes beyond economic empowerment by creating supportive peer networks where participants share experiences and solutions. Through regular mentorship circles and community dialogues, Empawa Mama addresses the social stigma faced by teen mothers while promoting sexual/reproductive health education to prevent future teenage pregnancies. These holistic interventions have seen participants not only increase their household incomes by an average of 40%, but also regain confidence to advocate for their rights within their families and communities.