Baby I Love You Sew

It's lockdown. Schools are closed for two years. Your single mother has 6 children to feed...and no job. A man offers to help you. A few weeks later you realise you're pregnant. Another scenario. Your family live in the village, and when you transfer to Senior School, it's a long way from home. You move to live with your Aunt. Your Aunt asks you and her two daughters to help in her restaurant when you're not at school. Then lockdown happens. When the restaurant is closed, there is no money. The Aunt finds another way to earn money.  You fall pregnant.

As a result of Covid, rates of teenage pregnancies rose worldwide. Lockdowns left many people desperate. No school, no work, no money. 

I'm reeling from hearing the stories of two young mums on the skills training courses at the Soroti Centre. I stopped taking notes as the mums, Brenda and I relived the trauma of giving birth (with serious medical complications), having a child, with no free healthcare, or support for babies and young mothers. Grace & Sarah (made up names) talked about being rejected... by family, or the baby's father. Sarah had to work, take care of the baby, and her siblings, ... with an abdominal scar, while grieving for the loss of her baby's twin. It goes on & on. Poverty, pain, sickness, hunger, no way to afford clothes for your baby (you use your old ones).

Sarah told us that one day a friend, for Grace it was her sister, told her about the free skills training programme at Global Care Soroti. The other girls had finished courses and were now earning money using their skills. Grace and Sarah applied and were interviewed, and were thrilled to be accepted. Now they can hope again. 

Sarah is already working as a tailor on Saturdays at her sister's shop. She earns enough to buy food for her two children and herself. Grace does her friends' hair. It doesn't pay much yet but it's better than nothing. She can buy nappies. They told us the teachers are a fantastic support. They don't just train them in a skill, they listen to them and stand with them.

Another mum told me she earns small money by selling cakes she's made on her baking course. 

The girls told me about the Menstrual Hygiene programme Brenda runs. That's for another blog - but it's had a huge impact on the women. Sarah and Grace are more in control of their bodies. They understand ovulation & cycles. They can make reusable pads & teach their siblings. They said it was amazing to learn about these things. 

I took some deep breaths when they left. Tried to hold the emotional reaction to their trauma, and focus on their outlook now. These two young women have overcome impossible situations, and thanks to Global Care, can look to the future with hope of earning income. Here they have support and love as well as training. Their love for the team is evident. They are incredibly appreciative of the support they receive. They are safe.

In the UK, we receive free education, free healthcare, rest following surgery. We have child benefit, free antenatal and postnatal care. So much trauma - and they're only 21 and 22 years old. Maybe now you understand why I love Global Care. Local managers see a need, develop a proposal, discuss with the UK team, and a plan forms. But nothing happens without funding. Shameless marketing... It costs about £82 to train a baker on a one year course. It's more for tailoring and hairdressing (but still only about £316 for tailoring), as their materials are more expensive. 

It's the contrast that gets me every time. Traumatic stories & the hope brought into young lives & families for an independent future... for a relatively small sum (to us). 

Now we're off to eat a meal cooked by the trainee bakers, including the samosas we watched them prepare this morning. Happy Barbara! 

Tomorrow we start for home. We have to say goodbye to this awesome team of staff and teachers, but I'm leaving encouraged and with even greater respect for the work of Fred and the Soroti team. Part of my heart is  always in Soroti. 

If you'd like to support Global Care, as well as sponsorship, there are plenty of other ways to contribute. Xx

Other Ways to Give Global Care