Sónia Arnaldo, 26 years old, resident of Bairro 7 de Abril in Changara, became a mother at 18 and faced major financial challenges. Her life changed after joining the project’s activities:
“I joined the young mothers’ club through the invitation of a mentor. There, I learned about maternal health, nutrition, breastfeeding, disease prevention, and family planning. Later, I joined a savings group, where I was able to get a loan to start my business selling hair extensions, wigs, and small cakes at school. With this income, I returned to school and improved my family’s financial situation.
Today, I am empowered, supporting both my studies and my son. I want to inspire other young women not to marry too early.”