Korogocho, one of Nairobi’s most densely populated informal settlements, is home to more than 150,000 people living on less than one square kilometre. Basic infrastructure is scarce, many households struggle to secure enough food, and around 70 per cent of families are headed by a single parent – most often a mother.

Drug and substance abuse have contributed to a rise in early pregnancies among girls in Korogocho. Many parents, often affected by addiction themselves, are unable to fulfil their caregiving responsibilities, leaving children to fend for themselves. In this vulnerable environment, girls and young women may be forced to earn money for essential items such as sanitary pads, soap, underwear, or other daily necessities – sometimes by exchanging sexual favours. When they become mothers at a young age, they frequently face the challenge alone: without family support, adequate income, or continued education.

Support for Young Mothers in Korogocho is a sub-project of Hope for Future, an initiative that has been running for more than ten years. The project is currently supported by Brot für die Welt Österreich and works to create education, protection, and prospects for children, young people, and families in Korogocho.

In mid-October, Hope for Future Programme Coordinator Mary Njambi Wambui visited Vienna. In conversation with Women* on Air, she speaks about daily life in Korogocho, the work of Hope for Future, and why targeted support for young mothers is so vital.

More about the project Hope for Future: https://www.brot-fuer-die-welt.at/projekte/projekte/kenia/bildung/

Interviewee: Mary Njambi Wambui, Hope for Future Programme Coordinator

Music:

Nimeona – Angel Benard

People like you – Gramps Morgan

Heal the world – Michael Jackson

Language: English

Host and Producer: Lisa Meiffert

Photo credit: Verena Bauer