Empowerment of teenage mothers to take back their dignity and become young social entrepreneurs
In Rwanda we face a high-rate of teenage pregnancy and all related social problems by lack of sexual health education. The young moms are often rejected by their families and communities and do not know what to do. They deserve a helping hand by which they can come back in their power and dignity, while learning how to create a job to take care of themselves and their children.
I am Jean Paul, member of the GAAFAADE team with whom I started GAAFAADE as social enterprise to be able to make work (income) of our dream: GAAFAADE start-ups, run by young moms in all villages of Rwanda.
In the video I tell you more about the newest project: GAAFAADE start-ups Rusizi & Kigali by which we can make our dream reality in 2023-2026.
In 2019 (before COVID-19) we started the GAAFAADE pilot in Rusizi. Young moms were trained in tailoring and became dressmakers. Some of them became even fashion designers. The succesfull results of the pilot encouraged us the think bigger and create the dream:
- What if we could help teenage moms to become young entrepreneurs of GAAFAADE community start-ups. Where they make and sell affordable sanitary pads to girls and women in rural areas and small ‘Made in Rwanda’ products that can be sold in Hotels and local markets.
- With support of Artists from Country Records and Journalists from Country FM 105.7 to make the story of teenage moms heard and promote the GAAFAADE products they make.
We are ready to start and need some help to do so
In 2023 we would like to start 2 GAAFAADE start-ups: 1 in Rusizi and 1 in Kigali.
- In Rusizi the production will be focussed on sanitary pads and small GAAFAADE ‘Made in Rwanda’ products.
- In Kigali the production will be focussed on culturally high valued GAAFAADE ‘Made in Rwanda’ fashion that can be worn and promoted by artists.
Help questions for the GAAFAADE Rusizi start-up
To start the GAAFAADE Rusizi project we need a start-up capital by which we can buy the needed equipment and materials to start making sanitary pads and the first ‘Made in Rwanda’ products. This start-capital we try to collect by crowdfunding and other funding activities.
This project will start in collaboration with the YeGo centre in Rusizi. They have machines, tables, chairs, etc. By this we can start with a basic budget.
All info and details about the required starting capital can be found by clicking on the image of the Crowdfunding page below.
Crowdfunding campaign GAAFAADE Rusizi
Help questions for the GAAFAADE Kigali start-up
To start the GAAFAADE Kigali project and the support by Artists, we need a soft loan (without intrest) to decorate the GAAFAADE studio room and to buy the most needed equipment and materials for production of the first GAAFAADE ‘Made in Rwanda’ Artist fashion line.
For this project we have a good room already, near to the Country Records studio. To start manufacturing we need equipment, tables, chairs, materials etc.
By the close collaboration with Country Records, her Artists and their interest in our ‘Made in Rwanda’ fashion line we are sure that the loan can be paid back in 1 1/2 year.
If you would like to help us with a soft loan, please contact me personally via noopja@gmail.com
We are looking forward to starting this meaningful project with young moms in Rusizi and Kigali.
FOr any questions please contact us via mail: noopja@gmail.com
We greatly appreciate any help.
Jean Paul (GAAFAADE Kigali) & Jenny (GAAFAADE Rusizi)
Everything we do is based on the SDGs 4, 5, 8 and 17: Informal quality education to empower girls & boys about sexual healt and create work/jobs on inclusion, basic needs and sustainable change with no one left behind in collaboration with youngsters and global partnerships
