Hajerah was just 16 when she became a mother. In her community in Uganda, that could have been the end of her story—another girl left without choice, her dreams derailed by circumstance.

In Uganda, 34% of girls are married before age 18, and nearly a third have their first child before then. For many girls, young motherhood means dropping out of school and losing the chance to build an independent life. But Hajerah decided her story would be different.

From Struggle to Support: Cue MEMPROW

When MEMPROW (Mentoring and Empowering Program for Young Women), a VOW for Girls–supported organization in Uganda, first met Hajerah, she was a young mother navigating a world that had offered her few tools and even fewer second chances.

Across Uganda, child marriage and early pregnancy cut short girls’ futures every day. MEMPROW exists to change that trajectory.

Through mentorship, skills training, and consistent support, they equip girls and young women with the confidence, knowledge, and resources to say no to early marriage—and yes to their own futures.

For Hajerah, that support changed everything. She found her voice—and began using it to shape a different path forward.

Building Something Together

Today, Hajerah leads a Sunday savings circle of 25 girls. Each week, they contribute 500 shillings ($3.87 USD) while learning to save, plan, and dream. What started as a small group has grown into a movement: ten girls in her circle have returned to school, and seven have started their own small businesses.

For girls in Uganda, learning to save and plan isn't just a financial skill; it's a form of protection. A girl with economic independence is far less likely to be pushed into early marriage as the only option. 

Hajerah is proof that a young mother, given the right support, doesn't just transform her own life; she also transforms other girls’ lives. 

"When the girls are well guided," says MEMPROW Executive Director Immaculate Mukasa, "they can develop agency and make powerful decisions for themselves."

A Ripple Effect

Hajerah is also cultivating a half-acre of land, growing food, and generating income for herself and her child. Every week, she shows up for her savings circle, for her community, for the girls who are walking a path she knows well.

"When I see the girls saving consistently, even in tough times, it reminds me that determination isn't about income—it's about mindset," says MEMPROW's Kayom Sunday.

Hajerah learned that lesson and is now passing it on to other girls. 

How You Can Support Mothers Like Hajerah

Hajerah's story shows how far a young mother can come with the right support and how she can become a catalyst for the girls around her. By supporting VOW for Girls, you help fund the mentorship, training, and community programs that give girls the tools to resist child marriage, stay in school, and build futures on their own terms.

This Mother's Day, give a gift that keeps growing.

Please donate or spread the word to help young mothers and girls build the futures they deserve. Thanks to generous donors who support VOW’s operational costs, 100% of funds raised through public donations directly support community-based efforts to end child marriage around the world. 

Support Mothers Like Hajerah. Donate to VOW for Girls today!