Strengthening young hands- Story of young Jessica

Youths most especially young women in Plateau State encounter challenges every day. Apart from sharing their communities’ struggles over limited resources like water, land or jobs, many systematically face discrimination simply by virtue of being female. This includes being kept out of school, disproportionate vulnerability to HIV infection and lack of access to property and other rights. Yet young women around the state are changing their lives, families and their communities.

To properly harness the latent potential in adolescent and young people, Mashiah Foundation through the support of US Ambassador’s small grant program facilitated the training of HIV affect in school/out of school adolescent in sexual reproductive health, life building and vocational skills. Among those trained is Jessica Unurhoro a 18 year old adolescent from Rukuba Road community who developed the passion of fashion designing and she is currently learning how to become a seamstress.

“I love to see people wear beautifully designed dresses that makes them have a good sense of humor and happy” she said. After losing her mother some years ago and a father who is under treatment and care, Jessica currently plies her trade at a sewing centre where she earns little to cater for the needs of their family and sew dresses for herself, siblings and other customers.  She is also a member of the adolescent saving group in her community where she has saved N8, 500. “I intend to start my own business at the end of the project in order to support myself and family.

Jessica Unurhoro is one amongst many adolescent and young people trained on vocational skills and other skills by the US Ambassador’s Small Grant Program/Mashiah Foundation project in Jos North LGA of Plateau State and are making meaningful progress in their trade, health and family life.