Amos Trust is a small UK-based, creative human rights organisation. For nearly 40 years, they have been challenging injustice, building hope, and creating change by working with vibrant local partners in Gaza, Occupied Palestinian Territories, South Africa, Burundi, Tanzania, India and Nicaragua.
Funding from Beatrice Gilmore Charitable Trust supported their StreetBorn project which helped 37 young mothers or those at risk of early pregnancy on the streets of Mwanza in Tanzania, improve their health, employability, and move off the streets.
Girls received counselling, access to free healthcare, sexual health awareness sessions and support to set up their own businesses. This project helped women overcome their trauma and take control of their lives, so they could provide a bright future for themselves and their children.
StreetBorn was delivered by their partner Cheka Sana, who worked with 37 young women, all of whom were previously sex workers. 11 women were pregnant, four were young mothers and 22 were at risk of pregnancy due to their occupation. As a result of the project, women received business skills training and were all supported to set up their own small businesses to earn a living, mostly in tailoring. At the start of the project 14 women were living in slums, 19 were sleeping on the streets and four were living with their parents. Now, all of the women and their children are living safely off the streets. 34 of the 37 women have moved back in with their families, with the remaining four living with foster families. Cheka Sana helped women rebuild relationships with their families and overcome issues that had contributed to them leaving home in the first place.