Mothers as Daily Laborers

Training the Mothers

Young street mothers represent the most marginalized and disadvantaged groups of the society. As to the present reality in the streets of Addis Ababa, the long held term; street children should be changed with the term street community. Currently we are witnessing a great number of adult people with their children living in the street, which results in new a generation of street babies. The problem is growing extremely fast and needs the intervention of all social sectors before it reaches the point of no return level. This is the second goal of St. Francis Children's Care Program (SFCCP). To help the mother is to help the child.

Mothers face double jeopardy in the streets. As a street community they suffer from starvation, bitter cold, inadequate clothing, ailments, addictions and other social evils. In addition, the streets are particularly harsh places for the mothers. Because of their being female, they are exposed to sexual violence, gang rape, physical abuse, mental torture etc. In attempting to avoid these complications, most of them are driven to prostitution, which is very risky with the present situation of HIV/AIDS. Today they are the most poverty stricken, marginalized and victimized group of the society. This requires the utmost attention of all concerned bodies.

St. Francis Children's Care Program, being aware of this issue, will provide vocational skills training. If the woman has some basic knowledge of a certain skill, the training will build on that. This may be sewing, hairdressing, weaving, knitting, or cooking, etc. In the case where the woman has no skills, fundamental skills training will be provided. The small investment in training these mothers has tremendous payoff. The cycle of poverty can be broken; AIDS can be controlled, children have the presence of a responsible adult in their lives.

To accomplish this, SFCCP needs to support the mothers entirely while they are in training, and to help them subsist on the low wages once they start their work. Low-skilled workers in Addis Ababa will never be entirely self-sufficient. Most of these women will earn less than $.50 per day. Although this sum is small, it will enable them to begin independence, will take them off the street and restores dignity. The more experienced they get in their skill, the more they can earn. The ultimate goal is to have them as self-sufficient as possible.

Training takes eight to ten months, during which time their children are attending the school. Your donation will pay for the living expenses of the mother and her children, the cost of the training, the start-up materials needed for her new job. For example, a mother may need a sewing machine, or materials to be a hairdresser, or other supplies.