Being a single parent is a tough job no matter where you are. In a refugee settlement it can be particularly tough – especially if you don’t have family, friends and neighbors to lean on and help you get your footing.
For a group of young mothers in Kyangwali settlement, life has been a challenge. They became mothers when they were just children themselves, and their babies’ fathers have not stepped up to help. They are the breadwinners for themselves and their children, but it’s difficult to find opportunities without any help.
ARC’s team in Kyangwali was worried about these young mothers because their situations made them vulnerable to people who might not have their best interests at heart. We wanted to do something to put them on a stronger footing. So, when we heard that they knew how to sew, a lightbulb went on.
On Day 252, we helped these mothers start up a Kitenge fabric and tailor shop on the main street of Kyangwali. Kitenge is an African fabric similar to sarong, and it’s usually worn by women and wrapped around the chest or waist, over the head as a headscarf, or as a baby sling.
We handed the moms a new sewing machine and helped them rent a space for their store – and these 5 mothers were off and running. “They lacked a starting point – the support to get something going,” said Joseph from the ARC team. “But now they’re supporting each other and building a business that will give them what they need to care for themselves and their small children.”
Stop by there shop if you’re ever in the neighborhood!
This change made possible by Atomic Data.
