Strides in Empowering Teenage Parents: Vocational Training for Social Protection

The transformative power of this initiative is evident in the stories of its beneficiaries. Sunday Mary, a teenage mother from Mongoyo village, enrolled in the tailoring program at Koboko Technical Institute.

In a bid to address the growing challenges faced by teenage parents in the West Nile region, the World Food Programme (WFP) and Save the Children and district local governments launched a transformative vocational training initiative across several districts and are now registering success. The program, designed to equip young parents with marketable skills, aims to provide a sustainable pathway out of poverty while promoting self-reliance and dignity.

Abale Robinson, the Deputy Academic Officer at Koboko Technical Institute, highlighted the wide range of skills offered through the initiative. From mechanics, tailoring, and carpentry to agribusiness and digital literacy, the training programs address the diverse needs of the beneficiaries. 

“‘The project is achieving its intended target because the students are accounting to us that they have learned something because by the time they arrived here, they were unable to do anything but now they are progressing well and have already started to help themselves and their communities.’ Abale

‘In Koboko alone, we have had 130 teen mothers who were skilled in various enterprises and as a District, we hope the people do well’. By empowering teenage parents with livelihoods, we are not just teaching skills but giving them the tools to rewrite their futures,” Moro Paul, Project coordinator at the district said.

The impact of this initiative is vividly illustrated by the stories of its beneficiaries. Sunday Mary, a teenage mother from Mongoyo village in Padum Parish, Koboko District, shared her journey of transformation. Enrolled in the tailoring program at Koboko Technical Institute, she now dreams of starting a small business to support her young family. 

“‘I will use the start-up package they have promised to start a small shop where I will be sewing clothes and selling them,” she said.

Mary's husband, Rudde Ali, 19, also joined the program to learn motor repair. His newfound skills have already started to pay off. 

“I married when I was so young, around 16 years, I faced challenges of taking care of my family. I was defeated to provide my wife with even the basic needs like soap, I lacked the skills to help me make a living. But since I came here my life is changing. I now know how to remove and fix spare parts on a motorcycle. My future is brighter than before.” Ali explained.

These personal accounts underscore the transformative power of vocational training for teenage parents. The initiative does more than just provide skills, it restores confidence and dignity, giving young parents a chance to reclaim their lives despite the challenges they face.

With such programs gaining momentum, the ripple effects of economic empowerment and social resilience are expected to shape not just individual lives but also the broader communities in West Nile. The success stories of Mary and Ali reflect a promising start to a brighter future for teenage parents in the region.