For the last 15years, Rwanda has been experiencing unprecedented rates of teen pregnancy. The COVID-19 pandemic has only made things worse because with schools on lockdown there has been a greater likelihood of engaging in risky sexual behaviour and an increased risk of sexual exploitation. Many parents whose families live in poverty lost their jobs during the pandemic. This has made it difficult for them to care for their children. Basic needs such as healthy nutritious meals, hygiene products including diapers and clothes for themselves and their babies are now much more difficult to afford.
In the Rusizi District of South-western Rwanda, teen pregnancies rates have grown to epidemic proportions. Teen mothers have to deal with stigma from their families and a society that often rejects them leaving them to fend for themselves. The Stitching Grace Ministry is driven by the idea that with grace, love and compassion we stitch the wounded hearts of teenage mothers who are experiencing emotional, physical and spiritual pain marred by extreme poverty.
In 2021 we supported, encouraged, loved and spoke confidence into the lives of 35 teen mothers from Nkombo Island, which borders the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is a densely populated community solely dependent on fishing and with high levels of poverty. The 35 teen mothers are now part of the new Stitching Grace ministry, an annual program that started in September 2021 that will provide counselling, workshops and training for teen mothers in the art of tailoring. With the support of our partners, we plan to provide teen mothers with start-up kits to begin small-scale businesses to fend for themselves and their newborns. To begin with, the young mothers have received training in early childcare and counselling as many of them have experienced various forms of trauma. We also provide them with food and cleaning supplies to support them in raising healthy babies.
