Young Moms Unite

The specific problem that Young Mums Unite is solving is the lack of access to accurate and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information, services, and emotional support for young mothers aged 15-24 in Tanzania and globally.

In Tanzania, the scale of this problem is considerable. According to the United Nations Population Fund, 27% of girls aged 15-19 have begun childbearing, one of the highest rates in the world. This means that an estimated 270,000 girls in Tanzania become mothers before the age of 20 each year.

Globally, the issue is even more widespread. It is estimated that 16 million girls aged 15 to 19 and 1 million girls under the age of 15 give birth every year, the vast majority of whom live in low- and middle-income countries. These young mothers often face significant challenges in accessing accurate SRHR information, essential health services, and emotional support.

The factors contributing to this problem that relate to the Young Mums Unite solution include:

• Lack of access to accurate and comprehensive SRHR information: Many young mothers lack the knowledge and understanding of their sexual and reproductive health, which limits their ability to make informed choices.
• Inadequate healthcare infrastructure: Young mothers often face barriers in accessing essential health services, such as family planning, antenatal care, and postnatal care.
• Societal stigma and discrimination: Young mothers are often stigmatized and discriminated against by their communities and healthcare providers, deterring them from seeking the support they need.

By addressing these core issues, the Young Mums Unite solution aims to empower young mothers and improve their sexual and reproductive health outcomes, ultimately contributing to better health and well-being for them and their children.

Young Mums Unite is a community-based solution that provides support groups for young mothers aged 15-24, offering them access to essential sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information, emotional support, and services.

At the core of our solution are the support groups, which are facilitated by trained professionals and bring together young mothers from similar backgrounds. In these groups, participants engage in discussions and activities focused on SRHR, parenting, and personal development. The groups create a safe and non-judgmental space for young mothers to share their experiences, learn from one another, and receive guidance from the facilitators.

To complement the support groups, we have partnered with local healthcare providers to ensure that young mothers can access the SRHR services they need, such as family planning, antenatal care, postnatal care, and counseling. Our facilitators help young mothers navigate the healthcare system and connect them with the appropriate services.

In addition, we provide young mothers with educational materials and resources, including pamphlets, booklets, and online information, to further their understanding of SRHR topics. This helps to address the lack of access to accurate and comprehensive information that many young mothers face.

To enhance our reach and impact, we have also integrated a technological component into our solution. We are developing an AI-powered chatbot that will provide young mothers with 24/7 access to SRHR information in a private and confidential manner. The chatbot will offer immediate answers to their questions, empowering them to make informed decisions about their health.

By combining the support groups, access to services, educational resources, and the AI-powered chatbot, Young Mums Unite aims to holistically address the needs of young mothers and improve their sexual and reproductive health outcomes.

Our solution, Young Mums Unite, serves young mothers aged 15-24 in Tanzania, and has the potential to expand to serve young mothers globally. This population is often marginalized and lacks access to the necessary support and services required during and after pregnancy.

In Tanzania, the scale of the problem is considerable. According to the United Nations Population Fund, 27% of girls aged 15-19, or approximately 270,000 girls, have begun childbearing each year. These young mothers face significant challenges, including:

• Lack of Information: Many of the 270,000 young mothers in Tanzania lack accurate and comprehensive information about sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), making it difficult for them to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
• Emotional Support: Pregnancy and motherhood can be particularly challenging for young mothers, who often feel isolated and overwhelmed, with limited access to emotional support.
• Access to Services: Young mothers frequently face barriers in accessing essential health services, such as family planning, antenatal care, postnatal care, and counseling.
• Stigmatization and Discrimination: In many communities, young mothers face stigmatization and discrimination, which can negatively impact their mental and emotional well-being.

Young Mums Unite addresses these needs through our support groups, which provide a safe and non-judgmental space for young mothers to connect with peers, share their experiences, and receive emotional support. The groups are facilitated by trained professionals who offer accurate and evidence-based information on SRHR, parenting, and personal development.

Our partnerships with local healthcare providers ensure that young mothers have access to essential health services, and our facilitators help them navigate the healthcare system and access the services they need.

By providing the 270,000 young mothers in Tanzania with the knowledge, support, and services they require, Young Mums Unite empowers them to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health and well-being. This, in turn, contributes to improved health outcomes for young mothers and their children, and fosters a sense of community and support that is crucial for their personal development and empowerment.

The leadership and team of Young Mums Unite are exceptionally well-positioned to deliver this solution due to their direct proximity and personal connection to the communities they serve.

Our team is led by Juliana Magesa, a young woman who has personally experienced the challenges faced by young mothers in Tanzania. Juliana became a mother at the age of 17, and her firsthand experience of navigating the lack of SRHR information, emotional support, and access to services fuels her deep passion and commitment to supporting other young mothers.

Joining Juliana on the team are three other Tanzanian women, each bringing unique perspectives and expertise to the solution:

1. Fatima Mushi, a registered nurse with 5 years of experience in community-based healthcare. Fatima's knowledge of the local healthcare system and her connections with service providers are invaluable in ensuring young mothers can access the services they need.

2. Amina Omari, a social worker with a background in counseling and youth development. Amina's expertise in providing emotional support and facilitating group discussions is crucial to the success of the support groups.

3. Neema Kibona, a community organizer with a strong track record of engaging marginalized populations. Neema's skills in outreach, community mobilization, and participatory design are integral to the solution's implementation and sustainability.

The diversity of our team, both in terms of personal experiences and professional expertise, ensures a holistic approach to addressing the needs of young mothers in Tanzania. Importantly, the team's close connection to the target communities is reflected in the design and implementation of our solution.

We engage in regular community consultations to understand the specific challenges and aspirations of young mothers, and we co-design our support groups and educational materials with their input. This ensures that the solution is culturally appropriate, responsive to the communities' needs, and empowers young mothers as active participants in the process.

By leveraging the team's unique positionality and the meaningful engagement of the communities we serve, Young Mums Unite is exceptionally well-positioned to deliver a transformative solution that improves the sexual and reproductive health and well-being of young mothers in Tanzania.

Young Mums Unite is currently in the Pilot stage of our solution. To date, we have served 430 young mothers aged 15-24 in the Shinyanga and Tabora regions of Tanzania.

Our pilot program includes the core components of our solution: support groups, partnerships with local healthcare providers, and the integration of an AI-powered chatbot. The support groups provide a safe and non-judgmental space for young mothers to connect with their peers, share experiences, and receive emotional support and SRHR information from trained facilitators. 

Through our healthcare partnerships, we ensure that young mothers can access essential services such as family planning, antenatal care, postnatal care, and counseling. Our facilitators help navigate the healthcare system and connect young mothers to the services they need.

Complementing the in-person support, our AI-powered chatbot offers young mothers 24/7 access to SRHR information in a private and confidential manner. The chatbot provides immediate answers to their questions, empowering them to make informed decisions about their health.

The pilot phase has allowed us to test the effectiveness of this holistic approach and gather valuable feedback from the young mothers we serve. We have observed positive outcomes, including increased knowledge of SRHR, improved access to healthcare services, and enhanced emotional well-being among participants.

However, as we are still in the pilot stage, our solution is not yet an established, consistent model available in multiple communities. We are focused on refining our approach, strengthening partnerships, and gathering more data to demonstrate the impact of our solution. Once we have solidified the model, we will be well-positioned to scale our efforts and reach more young mothers in need of support across Tanzania and potentially beyond.

We are applying to Solve because the program's unique approach to supporting innovative solutions aligns closely with the needs and aspirations of Young Mums Unite. Specifically, we hope that Solve can help us overcome the following barriers:

Financial Barriers: As a non-profit organization, we face the constant challenge of securing sustainable funding to support our operations and expansion. The Solve program's access to a global network of funders and partners could help us secure the necessary financial resources to scale our solution and reach more young mothers in Tanzania and beyond.

Technical Barriers: While we have developed an effective solution, we recognize the need to continually improve and refine our technology, particularly the AI-powered chatbot. Solve's technical expertise and connections to the broader innovation ecosystem could provide us with the insights and resources to enhance the chatbot's capabilities and user experience.

Cultural Barriers: Addressing the deeply rooted societal stigma and discrimination faced by young mothers in Tanzania requires a nuanced understanding of local cultural norms and dynamics. Solve's global network and expertise in navigating cultural complexities could help us develop culturally sensitive strategies to better engage with and support our target communities.

Market Barriers: As a non-profit, we face the challenge of reaching and engaging with our target population effectively and sustainably. Solve's guidance and connections to relevant stakeholders, such as healthcare providers and community organizations, could help us navigate the local market and strengthen our partnerships to expand our reach.

Beyond the financial and non-financial support, we are particularly interested in the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with other Solver teams tackling similar challenges in different contexts. This cross-pollination of ideas and best practices could significantly enhance the impact and scalability of our solution.

The Solve program's holistic approach to supporting innovative solutions aligns perfectly with our vision of empowering young mothers in Tanzania and beyond. We are excited about the prospect of collaborating with Solve to overcome our current barriers and accelerate the positive change we aim to create.

Young Mums Unite's solution is innovative in its holistic and technology-enabled approach to addressing the complex challenges faced by young mothers in Tanzania.

At the core of our innovation is the integration of support groups, healthcare service provision, and AI-powered technology to create a comprehensive and accessible support system for young mothers. This sets us apart from traditional siloed approaches that often fall short in fully meeting the diverse needs of this population.

The support groups are a particularly innovative element, as they provide a safe and judgment-free space for young mothers to connect with their peers, share experiences, and receive emotional support and SRHR information. By fostering a sense of community and belonging, these groups empower young mothers and help to destigmatize the challenges they face.

The seamless integration of healthcare service provision through local partnerships further enhances the impact of our solution. By ensuring that young mothers can access essential services, we address a critical gap in the existing healthcare landscape and empower them to take charge of their sexual and reproductive health.

The integration of an AI-powered chatbot sets our solution apart technologically. This innovative feature gives young mothers 24/7 access to SRHR information in a private and confidential manner, addressing the significant knowledge gap that many young mothers face. The chatbot's ability to provide immediate, personalized responses can catalyze broader positive impacts by inspiring similar technological interventions in the SRHR space.

The holistic and technology-driven nature of our solution has the potential to transform the landscape of support for young mothers in Tanzania. By addressing the interconnected barriers they face, we can not only improve individual health outcomes but also contribute to broader societal changes, such as reducing stigma, empowering young women, and promoting gender equality.

Young Mums Unite's theory of change is based on the premise that by providing a comprehensive, community-led support system, we can improve the sexual and reproductive health and well-being of young mothers in Tanzania.

 Our core activities include:

1. Establishing support groups facilitated by trained professionals to provide young mothers with emotional support, SRHR education, and personal development opportunities.
2. Partnering with local healthcare providers to ensure young mothers have access to essential services, such as family planning, antenatal care, and postnatal care.
3. Integrating an AI-powered chatbot that gives young mothers 24/7 access to accurate, personalized SRHR information and guidance.

The immediate outputs of these activities are:

• Increased knowledge and awareness of SRHR among young mothers
• Improved access to essential healthcare services
• Enhanced emotional well-being and sense of community among young mothers

These outputs are expected to lead to the following outcomes:

• Improved sexual and reproductive health outcomes for young mothers and their children
• Reduced stigma and discrimination towards young mothers within their communities
• Increased empowerment and agency of young mothers to make informed decisions about their health and futures

The theory of change is supported by evidence from various studies. Research has shown that community-based support groups can effectively improve mental health and social well-being among young mothers, while access to comprehensive SRHR information and services can lead to better health outcomes.

The integration of technology-enabled solutions, such as AI-powered chatbots, has been found to increase the reach and accessibility of SRHR education, particularly among marginalized populations.

By addressing the interconnected barriers faced by young mothers in Tanzania, Young Mums Unite's holistic approach has the potential to create a significant and sustainable impact on the lives of our target population, while also contributing to broader societal changes.

Young Mums Unite's primary impact goal is to improve the sexual and reproductive health and well-being of young mothers in Tanzania. Specifically, we aim to:

1. Increase knowledge and awareness of SRHR among 10,000 young mothers by 2026.
2. Improve access to essential healthcare services for 7,500 young mothers by 2026.
3. Enhance the emotional well-being and sense of community among 8,000 young mothers by 2026.

To measure our progress towards these goals, we have established the following key performance indicators (KPIs):

Knowledge and Awareness:

• Percentage of young mothers who demonstrate increased knowledge of SRHR topics, as measured through pre- and post-intervention assessments.
• Number of young mothers who access the AI-powered chatbot and engage with SRHR content.

Access to Healthcare Services:

• Number of young mothers who are successfully referred and connected to essential healthcare services, such as family planning, antenatal care, and postnatal care.
• Percentage of young mothers who report improved satisfaction with the quality of healthcare services received.

Emotional Well-being and Community

• Percentage of young mothers who report improved mental health and emotional well-being, as measured through standardized assessment tools.
• Number of young mothers who actively participate in the support groups and report a stronger sense of community and belonging.

These KPIs are aligned with the relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). We collect data through a combination of surveys, monitoring of program activities, and impact evaluations conducted in partnership with local research institutions.

By regularly tracking and reporting on these indicators, we can continuously assess the effectiveness of our solution, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions to maximize the impact on young mothers in Tanzania.

The core technology powering the Young Mums Unite solution is an AI-powered chatbot that provides young mothers in Tanzania with 24/7 access to accurate, personalized SRHR information and guidance.

The chatbot is built on a conversational AI platform that utilizes natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) algorithms to understand the user's questions and queries, and to generate relevant and tailored responses. The platform is integrated with a comprehensive SRHR knowledge base, developed in collaboration with local healthcare providers and SRHR experts, to ensure the information provided is contextually appropriate and evidence-based.

A key innovation of our chatbot is its ability to engage in two-way dialogues, allowing young mothers to not only receive information but also ask follow-up questions, share their concerns, and receive personalized advice. This interactive approach helps to build trust and empower young mothers to take a more active role in managing their sexual and reproductive health.

The chatbot is designed to be accessible and user-friendly, with a simple, intuitive interface and the option to switch between multiple local languages. This ensures that young mothers, regardless of their digital literacy or access to smartphones, can easily navigate the platform and benefit from its services.

In addition to the chatbot, our solution also leverages other technologies, such as mobile-based platforms for coordinating support group activities and secure data management systems for monitoring and evaluating our program's impact. By integrating these various technological components, Young Mums Unite is able to create a holistic, tech-enabled ecosystem of support for young mothers in Tanzania.

The Young Mums Unite solution team consists of:

5 full-time staff:

•   1 Executive Director
•   - 2 Program Managers
•   - 1 Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist
•   - 1 Technology Lead

4 part-time staff:
  - 2 Support Group Facilitators
  - 1 Healthcare Coordinator
  - 1 Communications and Outreach Specialist

In addition to the in-house team, we also work with 2 contracted software developers who provide ongoing support and maintenance for our AI-powered chatbot and other technological components of the solution.

Young Mums Unite has been working on our solution for the past 2 years. The organization was founded in 2022, and since then we have been focused on developing and piloting our comprehensive approach to supporting young mothers in Tanzania. This includes establishing support groups, building partnerships with local healthcare providers, and integrating the AI-powered chatbot technology. Over the course of these 2 years, we have refined our solution based on feedback and continuously worked to strengthen the different components of our intervention, laying the groundwork for our plans to scale the solution and reach more young mothers.

At Young Mums Unite, we are deeply committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve. Our leadership team is composed of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including gender, age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, ensuring that a range of perspectives and experiences inform our decision-making.

In our hiring and staff development processes, we actively work to identify and remove barriers to opportunity, particularly for marginalized groups. This includes offering flexible work arrangements, providing training and mentorship opportunities, and compensating staff at fair and competitive rates. We also encourage and support our team members to bring their authentic selves to work, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute.

To further enhance the diversity and inclusivity of our team, we have set the following goals:

1. Increase the representation of young mothers and community members on our team, ensuring that the voices and experiences of our target population are central to our work.

2. Establish formal mentorship and professional development programs to support the career growth and advancement of underrepresented staff.

3. Implement inclusive and culturally sensitive policies and practices, such as providing lactation spaces, offering mental health resources, and celebrating diverse cultural holidays.

4. Regularly review our hiring and HR processes to identify and address any biases or barriers that may be limiting the diversity of our applicant pool.

By continuously working to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive team, we believe we can better understand the needs of young mothers, develop more culturally relevant solutions, and ultimately have a greater positive impact on the communities we serve.

Young Mums Unite operates as a non-profit organization that provides a comprehensive support system for young mothers in Tanzania. Our business model is structured to maximize the impact on our target population while ensuring the long-term sustainability of our solution.

Our key beneficiaries are young mothers in Tanzania, particularly those facing challenges related to sexual and reproductive health, social stigma, and limited access to healthcare services. To serve this population, we offer the following core products and services:

1. Community-based support groups: These groups provide young mothers with a safe and judgment-free space to connect with their peers, receive emotional support, and access SRHR information.

2. Integrated healthcare services: Through partnerships with local healthcare providers, we ensure that young mothers can access essential services, such as family planning, antenatal care, and postnatal care.

3. AI-powered chatbot: Our innovative chatbot provides young mothers with 24/7 access to personalized SRHR information and guidance, addressing the significant knowledge gap they often face.

To fund the delivery of these services, we have a multi-pronged revenue model:

1. Grants and donations: We actively seek funding from philanthropic organizations, government agencies, and individual donors who align with our mission and vision.

2. Social enterprise activities: In addition to our core programs, we have started generating revenue through the sale of artisanal items made by young mothers, which serves as a source of income and empowerment for our beneficiaries. Since launching this initiative, we have generated over $12,000 in revenue.

3. Partnerships and service fees: We also earn revenue through partnerships with local healthcare providers, who pay a fee for the referral and coordination of services for young mothers.

By combining these revenue streams, we are able to sustain our operations and continuously improve the quality and reach of our solutions, while ensuring that our services remain accessible and affordable for the young mothers we serve.

Young Mums Unite's plan for financial sustainability is rooted in a diverse revenue model that combines grants, social enterprise activities, and service-based partnerships.

Grants and Donations: We have successfully secured funding from several reputable foundations and donor organizations, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UNFPA, and the Organon. To date, we have raised over $30,000 in grant funding, which has enabled us to establish our initial operations, develop the AI-powered chatbot, and pilot our support group and healthcare integration programs.

Social Enterprise: In addition to our core programs, we have launched a social enterprise initiative that generates revenue through the sale of artisanal items made by the young mothers in our support groups. This not only provides a source of income for our beneficiaries but also contributes to the overall financial sustainability of our organization. Since the launch of this initiative two years ago, we have generated over $12,000 in revenue, with plans to scale up production and distribution.

Service Contracts: We have also established partnerships with local healthcare providers, who pay a fee for the referral and coordination of services for young mothers. This revenue stream, while currently a smaller portion of our overall budget, is expected to grow as we expand our healthcare integration efforts and demonstrate the value of our solution to the local healthcare system.

Looking ahead, our goal is to achieve a balanced revenue mix, where grants and donations account for 50% of our funding, social enterprise activities contribute 30%, and service-based partnerships make up the remaining 20%. This diversified approach will not only provide a more stable financial foundation but also help us maintain the affordability and accessibility of our services for the young mothers we serve.