Make Child Mothers Count

No girl should ever be a mother or child bride. Yet, in 5 countries in Africa, one in 10 girls gives birth before the age of 15. Child motherhood is a major violation of girls' rights. It disrupts their education, their potential and perpetuates gender inequality.

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I got pregnant at 17 and my parents chased me away. It was a most difficult time. But after I participated in several trainings organised by CDF, I learned about sexual reproductive rights, gender equality, leadership, and life skills.’’ – Eunice

Eunice is from Tanzania. When she fell pregnant, her world was turned upside down. But with support from our Tanzanian partner, she can now run a business, feels confident to face life’s challenges and dreams of becoming a tailor!

When a child mother like Eunice is given a second chance, her opportunities are boundless. The reality is that for many African girls, child motherhood takes away their bright futures. In Tanzania, girls who become pregnant are expelled from school. Illiteracy, poverty and stigma often follow. Child mothers also face the risk of health complications, child marriage and other forms of gender-based violence.

COVID-19 has worsened this already-dire situation. Many girls are now more vulnerable to early pregnancy and marriage due to school closures, service disruptions, financial crises, parental deaths and lockdown abuse.

UNICEF warns that an additional 10 million girls will be married off before the end of the decade due to COVID-19.

At FORWARD, we are proud of our long history of empowering child mothers. To date, we have directly supported over 1,000 child mothers in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone and Uganda. Thanks to our strong local partnerships, we have delivered trainings on girls’ rights, entrepreneurship and leadership, equipping child mothers with life skills and supporting their return to education!

Your donation today will help us and our partners better support child mothers in transforming their futures and becoming advocates and champions for other girls in their communities.

Make child mothers count. Invest, educate and transform!

For more information, watch our campaign video here.

Your donation makes a difference!

buys schoolbooks

£10 will pay for schoolbooks for the academic year, helping to improve a child mother’s education prospects
buys school supplies

£50 will provide supplies such as a uniform, shoes, a satchel and sanitary products that a child mother needs throughout the academic year
funds vocational training

£100 will help a child mother attend a vocational course for 1 year, improving her career prospects
funds business training

£150 will provide business management training and set up a grant to help a child mother earn an income

buys schoolbooks

buys school supplies

funds vocational training

funds business training