Powered by Women restoring one Teen Mother’s hope for the Future

Children & Youth

Dec 11

*Masengesho records contributions during a lively youth group meeting, helping keep everything organized and on track.*

At just 18 years old, Masengesho has already faced challenges that would break many spirits. When she reached Primary 5, poverty forced her out of school—her parents simply couldn't afford the fees. A year later, at 17, she became a teenage mother, thrust into the overwhelming responsibility of caring for a child while barely able to care for herself. "I have a child, and he needs everything from me," she says. Her days blurred into an exhausting cycle: waking up hoping to find casual farm work, earning just enough for food, and facing hunger when no work came.

Everything shifted in July 2025 when a village agent knocked on her door with an unexpected invitation. Would she join a youth savings group? The group, called Twiteze Imbere Ncuri, is part of CARE's Powered by Women project. It's designed for young people in Nyagatare District's Tabagwe Sector, combining savings and loans with education on sexual and reproductive health. Masengesho didn't hesitate. "Joining this group gave me hope," she says. "I realized I could save and borrow money instead of depending on casual jobs that might not come."

The group is only two months old, but the impact on Masengesho's life is already real. Every week, she contributes 200 RWF. More importantly, she can now borrow up to 2,000 RWF when emergencies arise or when her child needs something she can't immediately afford. "Before, if I didn't find work, it was a real struggle," she explains. "Now, I can borrow and meet my child's needs." It's not just about the money. The group has given her something equally valuable: a sense of belonging and a vision for what's possible. She serves as the group's secretary, and the responsibility has boosted her confidence. She's no longer just surviving—she's planning.

"Before, if I didn't find work, it was a real struggle, now, I can borrow and meet my child's needs."

When Masengesho talks about her future, her voice fills with determination. She wants to open a small shop at a nearby trading center, selling food crops. "When we share out the savings, I will rent a shop and begin trading," she says. "I will sit in my shop like others, no longer working so hard for casual money. I will work for myself." For her, financial independence means more than just meeting daily needs. It means dignity. It means protection from exploitative relationships that prey on vulnerable young women.

Masengesho's story reflects a harsh reality across Rwanda's Eastern Province, where teenage pregnancy rates remain high and economic opportunities for young women are scarce. But programs like Powered by Women are showing that change is possible. By linking savings groups with sexual and reproductive health education, the project helps young women build both financial resilience and the knowledge to make informed choices. The group's savings may seem small, but for someone living on the margins, it's transformative. It's the difference between helplessness and agency, between desperation and hope.

"I have hope since I joined this group," Masengesho reflects. "Once I get used to working with my group, I will do even more. I am thinking about many things." In just two months, a young mother who once saw no way forward is now dreaming—and planning—for a future she can build herself.