POSTCARD FROM AFRICA-- April 2025

Owami is a young woman who recently participated in our Young Mothers Development Program.  We met her when she was 8-months pregnant, and things were not going well. While dealing with a myriad of issues, Owami was invited to join the Young Mothers Program through her local church. Here she got to meet other mothers dealing with similar challenges and was able to work through a well-structured program with peer support to help her feel more prepared for motherhood.

Here, in her own words,  is what Owami has experienced.

The Young Mothers Support Program helped me a lot as I got to know more about myself. Helping me to be at peace with the situation and letting go of the past. Learning to forgive people who hurt me in the past, so I don’t transfer all those emotions to the baby. The program helped me to prepare physically, emotionally and spiritually for the coming of my baby. Not having family close by was a challenge for me. Involving God in my pregnancy and knowing that He has a plan for me and my baby helped me to have faith that everything is going to be okay. When it was time to have my baby, we were still busy with the lessons, and I could not stay away. I organized with the program manager to still attend online as she was facilitating the last three modules with the rest of the girls. I then was able to graduate with the others without missing anything.

I found support, love and care in this program and now I know there’s others like me who were once lost, but now we journey together in becoming the best mothers we can be for our own children. I am grateful to Fountain of Hope Church for introducing me to Orchard: Africa, who has helped me in my journey of being a mother.

Thank you for supporting young women like Owami.  If they could, I am sure their babies would thank you too.