From Isolation to Empowerment. A Young Mother’s Story

Miriam Hasasha is the Founder and Executive Director of Kyamagero Youth Empowerment Initiative Uganda (KYEIU), Survivor National Girl Champion award winner 2023 and a former ambassador for the Coalition for Children Affected by AIDS. She continues to be a role model for young mothers in Uganda and globally and remains a friend to the Coalition. As part of the Coalition’s 2026 storytelling campaign where we are showcasing perspectives on why sustainable financing matters in the fight to end AIDS by 2030, Miriam has shared her views and hopes in the years ahead.

Tell us about yourself

At 15 years old, I felt scared, judged, isolated, shamed and alone. I had recently become a young mother. I still smiled. I didn’t know what motherhood was, but I held my baby anyway. Society said I was finished. I chose hope instead. I went back to school and a few years later I built Kyamagero Youth Empowerment Initiative (KYEIU) so no young mum ever feels as alone as I did. I did this with one mission in mind; To ensure every teen mother knows: Their story isn’t over. It’s just beginning.

What has your past and recent work involved?

I have been involved with the Coalition for Children Affected by AIDS for many years. I speak to, not for young mothers with HIV to continue treatment and advocate for themselves. The importance of projects that support young mothers affected by HIV being community-based can not be underestimated. I have spoken at Global AIDS conferences, on building a financial roadmap to end AIDS and now I run KYEIU – creating safe spaces for honest conversations that matter for young mothers. The initiative involves a variety of work including having dialogue with young mothers whose stories reflect resilience, determination, and hope, to creating spaces where their voices are heard, their challenges are acknowledged, and their potential is supported. We support social enterprise initiatives to help young parents develop their skills and generate income. We hold regular interactive sessions on different topics such as body changes and personal development, ensuring that when young people are equipped with the right knowledge, they are empowered to navigate their future with confidence and dignity.

Why does sustainable financing matter?

The global funding cuts have affected everyone’s work in the fight to end AIDS. Despite this, we continue our work. At KYEIU, we believe in youth empowerment. Sustainable financing means including young people in conversations about financing. Young people are facing continued isolation and exclusion and this does not stop the AIDS epidemic. We should continue to fundraise for funds to help donors understand what support young parents need and use the available resources we have to stand up and push on to achieve our goal of ending AIDS by 2030. We can not give up now.