By MN Reporter

Lives of vulnerable young women in Oruba Estate within Migori town have considerably improved after a community based organisation enrolled them in a women self-help Mary Go Round popularly known as Siri Ya Jikoni.

Blessed Generation CBO based in Oruba say the number of vulnerable women who got married or impregnated due to poverty at an early stage is worrying, which they admit need immediate intervention from all the relevant stakeholders.

Rhoda Ojijo, CBO chairperson said they have empowered these young needy women with as little as shs 2,000/= to start small businesses which the profit is used to buy food for their families.

Women in Siri ya Jikoni buy food or any popular item used in the kitchen when moving to the next beneficiary. In Blessed Generation CBO, vulnerable young women are encouraged to spend as little as shs 20 for Siri Ya Jikoni on a weekly basis.

According to Ojijo, the burden of women on ensuring children eat, sleep well and even given medication prompted them to target vulnerable young women who need knowledge on how to handle parenting challenges.

She said the challenges faced by the more than 20 young women enlisted by the CBO are varied with some of them asking to go back to school if given the chance. Rhoda however, said the charitable organisation dependent on friends’ donations are incapable of paying school fees for those who need to go back to school.

Lilian Ogilo, 17, a young woman with a two year old kid thought marriage could solve her problems when she lost both parents two years ago. She said nobody volunteered to pay her fees but opted for a major step she thought could help; marriage.

Ogilo now stays with her grandmother after she opted out of marriage which she thought could bring her joy. She is supposed to work hard and provide for her child and her aged grandmother.

She Blessed Generation CBO has taught small businesses skills for instance mixing liquid soap and how to sell to target customers.