As part of TPO’s psychosocial work in the Teso region in Eastern Uganda, a project was started in support of the area’s many single, teenage mothers – known as girl mothers.

A group was formed with 30 young girl mothers, many of whose pregnancies were a result of the LRA rebels’ presence in the area. The project was initially looking at attitudes within the communities towards girls who had children by the soldiers and then consequently left to raise the children on their own.

Part of the support provided to the group includes counselling on childcare, and just as importantly, sensitising relatives and the community to the girls’ situation to mitigate the impact of stigma meted out to them. This has been with great results so far, as four girls have returned to school thanks to revived support form their parents, and eight have been married partly thanks to the change in attitude due to TPO’s awareness raising campaign.

For the remaining girls, TPO has supported them by launching income generating activities such as financing a restaurant entirely run by the girls, who share the profit, which, though still modest, is having a great impact on their every day life.

Sarah is the chairperson of the group and, at 18, the single mother of a nine-month-old boy. “A boy deceived me,” she says of her falling pregnant, “and I had to drop out of school. “Some people wanted me to abort, but I refused, I wanted to deliver my child so that it would help me in the future. But it’s difficult being a girl mother because of the way some people treat you, so the group has helped us all a lot, because we support each other. Especially the restaurant, because we’re sharing the profit to support our children. TPO is giving us support and teaching us how to run a business, keep the records, and how to manage more profit.”

But the support goes far beyond just the financial impact. As Betty, a TPO-supported Change Agent explains. “It has made a big difference to the girls being part of the group, because it has helped them being confident in themselves, it has given them a sense of pride, identity & purpose. Girl mothers are often left out of their communities, and are treated differently than girls who have children with their husbands. Now, thanks to TPO, they have a forum where they can take their problems, receive counselling, and join in group activities and discussions. They’re much happier now!”

No one is benefiting more from the group than Mary. Referring to herself as a bastard, she was left by her mother as an infant and raised by her grandparents. At just 14 she became pregnant by a rebel soldier and had to drop out of school. “It has been a real struggle,” says Mary. “I had no one to help me with my child, I was all alone. Now, being part of the group, we can help each other and I feel I belong somewhere. And with the money I earn from the restaurant I can look after my child.”

Realising the profit is too small and the girls in need too many, TPO is currently considering expanding the project to enrol the group into its livelihood projects. This would mean the girls being allocated some land and given necessary means to start growing their own crops – an initiative that would greatly enhance their income and, more importantly, move towards becoming completely self-sufficient.

Some names have been changed to protect identities.

Sarah, the Chairperson of the Girl Mothers group; "It's difficult being a girl mother because of the way some people treat you."


Betty, a TPO supported Child Agent says being part of the group has made a big difference to the girls.


15-year old Mary became pregnant by a LRA soldier, and was subsequently left to fend for herself and her child.

Click here for more photographs from Teso projects