Skilling – Fashion & Design Cohort 2025

Name of Organisation: Rhythm of Life Uganda

Rhythm of Life – Skilling Initiative: Tailoring Project Rhythm of Life (ROL) continues to contribute to ending child marriages and teenage pregnancies through its targeted Skilling Initiative, with the Tailoring Project being a key intervention. This program equips adolescent girls, young mothers, and women from vulnerable backgrounds—many of whom have experienced or are at risk of child marriage or early pregnancy—with vocational skills that open pathways to economic independence.

In 2025, the Tailoring Project enrolled 20 young women, including teenage mothers, providing them with comprehensive training in garment construction, machine handling, pattern cutting, and finishing techniques. Beyond technical skills, the program integrated sessions on reproductive health, financial literacy, and rights awareness, ensuring participants gain both livelihood skills and the knowledge to make informed life choices.

By offering a safe and supportive environment, the project helps participants rebuild confidence, expand social networks, and access mentorship from experienced trainers. This holistic approach not only addresses the immediate need for income-generating skills but also tackles the root causes of child marriage and teenage pregnancy—poverty, lack of education, and limited opportunities. At the end of the training cycle, graduates were awarded certificates and, for some, startup tailoring kits to enable them to establish small businesses or gain employment in the garment industry.

These outcomes directly contribute to reducing economic dependency on exploitative relationships, which is a common driver of early marriage and pregnancy. Through the Tailoring Project, ROL empowers young women to create a self-sustaining future, transforming them into advocates for change within their communities. The ripple effect is evident as several graduates have begun mentoring other at-risk girls, further extending the project’s impact. This initiative aligns with our mission to break cycles of vulnerability and build a generation of economically empowered, informed, and resilient young women.