MTN Heroes of Change:  Ms Kundaribuo On A Mission to End to Teenage Pregnancy

Madam Linat Osman Kundaribuo, 2018 MTN Heroes of Change nominee

Accra, Ghana, April 13, 2018//-Teenage pregnancy in Ghana has been a major problem in the West African country, in spite of  numerous steps put in place by the public and private sector actors to address the canker.

But a 30-year-old Ms Linat Osman Kundaribuo is on a renewed mission to change the narrative.

In this regard, Madam Kundaribuo who is a teacher, a social work and a philanthropist set up the Teen Mum Project in Wa, the Upper West Regional capital, with her own capital and donations from well-wishers to educate young girls  on teenage sex, teenage pregnancy, and other related matters in the region.

She is hoping to extend the project to the other nine regions of the country, if she gets financial assistance from individuals and philanthropist organisations.

Madam Kundaribuo said: “I go from school to school educating girls on teenage sex and pregnancy. I help put girls who have given birth and feel life is over for them back in school”.

She continued: ” Some of the teen mothers have extreme cases of abuse at home and therefore run away to the streets. When I meet these young ladies, I talk to them to know their story, I then inform the social welfare and the community leaders”.

“I then follow up to their homes to verify if the stories being told are true. If they are in need of special attention, I bring them home ,clothe and feed themselves and their babies. I, with the help of the leaders of the community and the social welfare try to talk to the families to get them back into the society.

I also make sure whiles they are in the home, they either go back to school or acquire a skill. We have engage some in soap making, beads making , sewing and other professional training”.

Achievements

Through Madam Kundaribuo’s project, over 41 teen mothers have been sent back to school, while  27 other young girls are acquiring skills in soap , beads and dress making.

Additionally, ” I have been able to re-integrate some of these teen mothers back to their families. About 13 of them.  I currently have 10 teen groups in 10 school with membership of over 40 each. I have dealt directly with over 170 teen mothers and the number keeps going up”.

Madam Kundaribuo also noted that the project had gradually reduced infant and maternal mortality among teenagers through education and awareness campaigns in the Wa municipality.

“Girl child education is on the rise with the little effort from me and other volunteers. Teen mothers are developing the love for education even after pregnancy”, she disclosed.

Nominated for MTN Heroes of Change

The affable Madam Madam Kundaribuo’s  significant contributions to the people in the Wa municipality and the region at large did not go unnoticed. They have nominated her  to participate in this year’s MTN Heroes of Change.

It is currently aired on GTV every Sunday at 5:00pm; TV3 on Saturdays at 4:00pm;UTV on Sundays at 3:00pm;  Adom TV on Saturdays at 7:30pm; Max TV on Fridays at 7:00pm; and Home Base TV on Saturdays at 3:30pm to highlight the humanitarian activities of the Madam Kundaribuo and the other nine nominees.

The MTN Heroes of Change  which is MTN Ghana Foundation flagship project was initiated in July 2013 to recognise and reward persons who have provided significant humanitarian services to their communities through personal sacrifices. 

The MTN Ghana Foundation is the corporate social responsibility (CRS) arm of MTN Ghana, the leading telecoms services provider in the country.

Madam Kundaribuo was recently featured prominently on the ongoing season IV of the MTN Heroes of Change.

Areas for support

The main challenges facing Teen Mum Project, according to her are the growing numbers and the financial pressure she has to go through to keep the project running.

Madam Kundaribuo also needs support to rollout educational programmes to change the mindsets of the people in the region to have positive thoughts for teen mums.

Another problem she is encountering is inaccessible roads and transportation challenge to the villages where the teen mums live. This particular problem is making it difficult for her to visit them regularly to check on their well-being.

Looking into the future

Madam Kundaribuo is working hard set up a school and training centre with professionals to help the teen mothers and their wards to get back on their feet and live happy lives independently.

She therefore needs  more  resources as well as support to enable her solve the above-mentioned  challenges. So, if Madam Kundaribuo wins the GHC 100,000 ultimate prize of the MTN Heroes of Change, it will go a long way to help her achieve the project dream.

Apart from the fame, the prize will greatly motivate her to keep touching lives. Madam Kundaribuo needs your vote to win the ultimate prize. You can do so by texting her short code name (Linat) to 1406.

By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, African Eye Report

 

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