We are thrilled to share a powerful and heartwarming milestone with you: the graduation of our very first cohort of teenage mothers in Nkondjock, Cameroon, 2024.  16 Young Mothers have successfully completed the pilot version of our Vocational Training Program, marking the beginning of a transformative journey not just for them, but for their families and communities.

This pilot program focused on farming, a vital and lucrative sector in Cameroon. Over the course of an intensive 3-day training, these young mothers learned practical farming techniques, financial management strategies, and key literacy skills which laid a solid foundation for their long-term independence goal.

In Cameroon, many teenage mothers face these harsh realities: living on less than $1 a day, dropping out of school, and bearing the full responsibility of caring for their children. Opportunities for assisting them are scarce, and stigma from the community often silences their voices. Our program seeks to change that narrative by offering an alternative path that embraces education and empowerment.

As part of this pilot, we didn’t just train the women we invested in them. Participants received micro-grants to kickstart small-scale farming businesses, giving them a tangible and immediate means to apply their new skills and begin building a better future. The impact was: 16 young mothers walked away not just with certificates, but with renewed confidence, practical knowledge, and Micro Grants.

But this is only the beginning. This pilot represents the first step in a larger vision: our full Vocational Education Program. The expanded program will go beyond farming to include training in financial literacy, childcare, health education, housing, poultry farming and more to empower young mothers with diverse skillsets.

As we advance this mission, we are reminded every day that real change begins with small, intentional steps. These 16 graduates are proof that when we invest in young women, the return is immeasurable.We are proud of how far we’ve come and excited for what lies ahead. Your support means everything.