We want to share the details of one of our tailoring initiatives in Rwanda, where making school uniforms is also giving young mothers a path forward.

A partnership with Komera

Through our partner Komera, we have been able to employ young mothers to make school uniforms. The program gives them the tools, knowledge, and resources to rebuild their self-esteem, confidence, and livelihoods. The goal is a nurturing environment where these young women can thrive, regain hope, and build a brighter future for themselves, their children, and their families.

After graduating from vocational training in tailoring, the teen mothers were offered space to set up a workshop of their own. That space has become a hub of transformation and empowerment, where they apply their new skills to earn an income. Most members come from neighboring villages and can reach the facility to work and make a living.

What the program has made possible

These young mothers have experienced both social and economic empowerment. The program has enabled them to:

• Rebuild confidence and self-worth despite past stigma or trauma
• Gain financial independence through a stable source of income
• Make autonomous decisions for themselves and their children
• Challenge and change negative community perceptions of teen motherhood

Meet Rosette

Rosette is one of the program’s standouts. A graduate of the first tailoring cohort, she now serves as the group’s secretary.

Rosette became a mother at 18, which forced her to drop out of school in Senior Three. She had been raised by her grandmother since the age of two, and she faced significant emotional and family challenges, especially after her pregnancy. Feeling hopeless and disconnected from her dream of attending university, she found new direction and support through Komera. Psychosocial counseling helped heal her strained relationship with her grandmother and rebuild her self-confidence. With determination, Rosette completed her vocational training in tailoring. She also benefited from Komera’s holistic support, which includes life skills development, mental health support, and reproductive health education: tools that build long-term resilience.

Today, Rosette is self-reliant, hardworking, and ambitious. She dreams of owning her own tailoring business and is committed to improving her life and her family’s. She is immensely grateful to Komera for providing not only vocational skills but also employment that helps young women like her feel seen, valued, and empowered. Rosette’s journey from despair to purpose is a testament to the power of targeted community support, and to the importance of giving young mothers the opportunity to build a life for themselves and their children.