By Christine Mwaka Mbega | Mtepeni Ward, Kilifi County
At 28 years old, I have come to understand that sometimes a small opportunity can open the door to a completely different future.
My name is Christine Mwaka Mbega, and I come from Mtepeni Ward in Kilifi South Sub-County. Before joining the Tuungane Youth Voice & Empowerment Project (YVEP), I did not have practical skills that I could use to earn an income. I spent most of my time at home, often feeling stuck and uncertain about what the future held for me.
Joining Tuungane became a turning point.
Discovering a Skill I Never Thought I Could Learn
Through the Youth Voice & Empowerment Project, I enrolled in Fashion and Design training, where I began learning tailoring. At first, I was nervous. I did not know how to sew, and I wondered whether I would ever become good at it. But with patience, practice and encouragement, I slowly gained confidence.
Today, I can stitch clothes for myself and my children.
That may sound like a small achievement to someone else, but to me, it means a lot. Something that once seemed difficult has become a skill I can use in my everyday life and a skill that gives me the possibility of building a livelihood.
One of my proudest moments was making a handbag for my mother. I noticed that she did not have a bag she could comfortably use for her daily errands, so I decided to make one for her using the skills I had learned. When I saw how happy she was, I felt proud. I realized that the skills I was gaining were not only changing my own life; they were also allowing me to create something meaningful for the people I love.
From Skills to an Opportunity for Income.
The training also helped me begin seeing tailoring differently. It was no longer simply something I was learning. It could become a way for me to earn an income and eventually build a business.
I have already stitched dresses and beautiful Ankara tote bags for a client. Receiving an order, working on it and finally seeing the finished products gave me a new sense of possibility. For the first time, I could look at my hands and the skills I had gained and say: I can create something that someone is willing to pay for.
The Ubuntu Business Development training further strengthened this confidence. I gained knowledge about business and began understanding how I could turn my skills into a sustainable source of income. My dream is now to start my own tailoring workshop, grow my client base and become financially independent.
Finding My Voice Beyond the Sewing Machine.
My transformation through Youth Voice has not been about tailoring alone.
I also participated in mental health and life skills sessions, which helped me build my confidence, understand myself better and improve my wellbeing. Through the program, I have also discovered my leadership abilities. I currently serve as the captain of our football team. Being a team captain has taught me responsibility, teamwork and how to work with different people. It has also helped me become more confident in taking initiative and speaking up.
I also had the opportunity to attend and watch a Super 8 football tournament organized in Shanzu in collaboration with Tuungane CBO and Proactive Legends members, an experience that allowed me to interact with others, have fun and experience something beyond our regular training sessions.
These experiences reminded me that young women can participate, lead and take up space in different areas of community life.
Turning My Experience into Change for Other Young Mothers.
Perhaps one of the most meaningful parts of my journey has been realizing that my growth can also help other young women. Through the connections and confidence I gained, I started an initiative for teenage and young mothers aged 14–20 from Mtepeni Ward. Together, we formed a group called Tujiinue Group, which brings together approximately 20 young mothers every week for mental health conversations, empowerment forums and peer support.
Through a linkage I received, I have been able to strengthen this initiative and support fellow young mothers in my community. I am proud to call myself a changemaker.
The courage to start Tujiinue came from the confidence and life skills I developed through Tuungane’s Youth Voice & Empowerment activities at the Mtomondoni Youth Empowerment Hub and support from LVCT. The program helped me understand that my voice matters and that I can use what I learn not only to improve my own life, but also to create opportunities for others.
A Different Woman from the One Who Walked In.
When I look back at the woman who first joined the program, I see how far I have come.
I walked in without knowing how to sew. Today, I can make clothes for myself and my children. I have made a handbag for my mother, completed orders for a client and begun imagining tailoring as a business.
I have also become a football team captain and started an initiative supporting young mothers in my community.
These achievements have changed how I see myself.
I now know that I have abilities that can be developed. I know that I can learn. I know that I can lead. And most importantly, I know that my future does not have to be defined by where I started.
My hope is to establish my own tailoring workshop, grow my client base and become financially independent. I want to continue improving my skills so that I can build a better future for myself, my children and my family.
I also want to continue supporting young mothers in my community so that they can discover their own voices, build confidence and know that they are capable of creating change.
For me, Youth Voice has shown me that learning a skill can open a door, but confidence, practice and the courage to use that skill can help you walk through it.