My name is Henry Radio Kalela, and I come from Mulangu village in Nangoma zone, Mumbwa district. I joined REPSSI as a community-based volunteer, and I teach adolescent young mothers as part of the ‘Happy Mother, Healthy Baby Project.’REPSSI provided us with lessons to teach young mothers how to live with their families. We also have savings groups, which help us and the families of the young adolescent young mothers. These lessons are crucial because many young mothers face stress about how to care for their children, as they are still young themselves. It’s our responsibility to teach them so they don’t become overwhelmed with challenges.

Most of these young mothers gave birth at a very young age, and without our guidance, they wouldn’t know how to handle the responsibilities. Through teaching and using the resource guides provided, these mothers are now better equipped to care for their children and themselves. The mistreatment within families has decreased because, before these lessons, people would criticize young mothers for giving birth early. Now, with the knowledge they gain, such mistreatment has reduced. After receiving the lessons, the young mothers feel free to share their experiences with each other because they face similar challenges. This sense of community allows them to openly discuss their problems and find support among peers. However, some young mothers still face stress from negative comments, especially when they go to school and hear remarks about being parents at a young age.

Before these lessons, many adolescent mothers were not in good terms with their husbands, who often didn’t pay attention to their wives and children. Now, we see improved behavior, and families are more united and living better lives. One challenge we face during our sessions is that attendance has decreased due to the drought this year. Instead of attending lessons, some mothers choose to look for food. We try to visit them at home to ensure they are following what we’ve taught. It’s clear that the lessons are having a positive impact, as we’ve noticed changes in their homes.

It would be beneficial if, in addition to using books, we also incorporated different teaching techniques, such as poems and traditional sayings. To REPSSI, please continue with the valuable lessons you have brought to us. By helping each other, we can see positive changes in our community. Before, there were no savings, but now we understand how to use money wisely. The savings help us in various ways, and pooling our resources allows us to achieve more than if we kept the money at home.