Shamila's story

Young women in our training workshop
‘During lock down the hunger at home was too much for me to sit and wait. My mum had an accident and was ill so I had to try and find work to feed my little sisters. I was told to go and work as a housemaid. But when I got there I saw they wanted me for sex work. I was trapped. I thought even if schools opened again it will be too late for me. The team [at Awamu] found me helped me to get back to my family, they are supporting my mum to start a new business she can do even with her illness. I am very happy I have been able to go back to school. Thank you.’
— Shamila, 13 years

Picture: Our most recent cohort of trainees - more than an 80 girls receiving vital economic empowerment skills including five child mothers and 40 former sex workers. This is having a direct impact on more than 522 children as their guardians are now able to feed them and pay for their schooling