Today, EBLI continued ​visiting young mothers in business who previously completed EBLI computer literacy and business training. You can read about the first business visit as well. 

The objective of this field visit was to (1) see the state of young mothers’ businesses, (2) provide coaching to help young mothers generate increased profit, and (3) understand the current life condition of young mothers in business. A mixture of young mothers who are employed and self-employed were visited. Co-facilitators of business training, Michael Leen and Lucy Metha, conducted this field visit.

At each place of business, the young mother completed a questionnaire regarding health of her business. Additionally and when possible, customers were also interviewed. Specific young mothers visited include: Suzan (runs her own small restaurant, food catering business, food stand, and hair salon), Maria (runs here own hair salon), and Magdalena (employed in a hair salon).

Across the five young mothers visited today, they earn on average TZS 127,000 per month or roughly USD 59.07 (exchange rate: 2150).

Most recently we have been visiting the homes of 43 young mothers currently studying computer literacy and who will later enter into business skills training at EBLI. Now, our attention has turned to ​visiting young mothers in business who previously completed EBLI computer literacy and business training.

The objective of this field visit was to (1) see the state of young mothers’ businesses, (2) provide coaching to help young mothers generate increased profit, and (3) understand the current life condition of young mothers in business. A mixture of young mothers who are employed and self-employed were visited. Co-facilitators of business training, Michael Leen and Lucy Metha, conducted this field visit.

At each place of business, the young mother completed a questionnaire regarding health of her business. Additionally and when possible, customers were also interviewed. Specific young mothers visited include: Annastazia (employed in a shop that sells local handcrafts), Asha (cooks and sells porridge), Jackline (makes and sells clay flower pots, sews children’s clothing, and runs a vegetable garden), Mariam (runs her own hair salon), and Berina (employed in a hotel and cooks food at a local primary school).

Across the five young mothers visited today, they earn on average TZS 152,000 per month or roughly USD 70.70 (exchange rate: 2150) which is above the average monthly wage for a Tanzanian. 

Today the entire EBLI staff, along with five young mothers, completed a three-day workshop on Solutions Focused Approach (SFA). SFA is a methodology of teaching, training, facilitating, counseling, etc. that focused on the strengths of individuals - that is to say the things they are already doing well - as well as exceptions - times when the problem is not present or is less persistent. 

SFA operates with the following core assumptions about human beings and the way change occurs:

1. Every human being has strengths and resources.
2. Nothing is always the same; change is inevitable.
3. If something is working do more of it; if something is not working do something else.
4. Small steps lead to big changes.
5. The solution is not necessarily directly related to the problem.
6. No problem happens all the time. There are always exceptions that can be used.
7. The future is created and negotiable. 

SFA is a very simple method but at the same time requires lots of hard work and persistency to build up the proper mindset. The SFA methodology is focused on the doing level, meaning the focus is on one's behavior. A fundamental belief of SFA is that the client is the expert of his or her own situation. A facilitator using the SFA methodology seeks to lead from behind. 

During the month of March, EBLI conducted trainings on behavior change process (BCP) in five Mwanza-area secondary schools, including: Mahina, Mapango, Igogo, Igelegele and Mhandu. Combined, these trainings reached 205 secondary school students, roughly evenly split between males and females. These trainings were facilitated by two EBLI staff members, Rose Edward and Gertruda Swai, along with the support of five young mothers who have passed through EBLI computer literacy and business training.

Throughout the training, students pass through the three stages of BCP: (1) know and accept the current behavior, (2) choose and commit to a new behavior, and (3) act. In the end, questions are formulated using solution focused approach (SFA) to act on the desired changes in behavior. The process enables the students to have a positive attitude in dealing with life issues, and it also facilitates future goal planning and how to achieve those goals. A case study from the young mothers who helped facilitate is also used to give the students a reality and clear understanding of teen pregnancy and its consequences. Other participatory methods used during the training include creative drawing. 

Ultimately, BCP trainings in schools, combined with the methodology of SFA, is a proven mechanism for reducing the rate of school dropout due to pregnancy. For specific numbers on the achievements of the project, visit the EBLI page on Impact.