From Small-Scale Trade to Growing Entrepreneurship

Rosemary Rafaeri Komba is a 26-year-old young mother and the third-born in a family of four children. She is the proud mother of a three-year-old daughter. Rosemary continues to live with her parents and siblings and contributes financially to the wellbeing of her child and family.

She completed her primary education in 2012 and secondary education in 2016. Due to her family's financial situation, continuing with further studies was difficult. Before joining the Msichana wa Kisasa (MK) Program, her life revolved mainly around small-scale farming and petty trade, including selling bananas and petrol in plastic bottles, as her community does not have nearby petrol stations.

In 2023, Rosemary learned about the Msichana wa Kisasa Program through her village chairperson in the Kwadoli community in Mvomero Centre. She joined the program and graduated in February 2024.

A Transformative Experience

The program has completely transformed Rosemary's life. It gave her knowledge, confidence, and a stronger understanding of herself as a young mother. She learned the importance of financial education, increased her focus on business planning and saving, and strengthened her self-esteem.

The Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) sessions were particularly meaningful to her. Through these sessions, Rosemary learned about her body, her rights, and how to make informed decisions about her sexual health and her future. She reflects that she wished she had received this knowledge earlier in life, before making some of the decisions she made when she was younger.

The knowledge and skills I gained through the Msichana wa Kisasa Program have strengthened my confidence, helped me grow my businesses, and enabled me to take greater responsibility for my health, rights, and future.

Building Skills, Business and Independence

With the skills gained through the program, Rosemary now understands the importance of family planning, menstrual hygiene, and protecting herself from early pregnancy and gender-based violence. She recognizes these as important issues affecting girls and young women in her community.

She has also expanded her business activities. In addition to selling cassava, bananas, and petrol in plastic bottles, she was motivated to learn a new practical skill and started tailoring clothes. Her tailoring business has been doing well so far, giving her another source of income and an opportunity to build a more sustainable future for herself and her daughter.

Becoming an Ambassador for Change

Rosemary is deeply grateful to the Msichana wa Kisasa Program for equipping her with knowledge and practical skills that have empowered her and fellow young mothers economically, socially, and personally. She has become a voluntary ambassador for the MK Program, encouraging other girls and young women in her community to take community program opportunities seriously.

Her advice to other girls is to embrace opportunities such as the Msichana wa Kisasa Program fully, remain committed, actively participate in sessions, and be willing to share their insights because learning has no end. She believes that the knowledge and skills gained can change their lifestyles and help secure their future.

Key Areas of Impact

• Financial education, business planning and saving skills.
• Entrepreneurship and practical tailoring skills.
• Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights education.
• Family planning and menstrual hygiene awareness.
• Knowledge on preventing early pregnancy and gender-based violence.
• Improved confidence, self-esteem and community leadership.
• Voluntary peer advocacy for other girls and young mothers.