Shamila's story
“‘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.’ ”
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