Empowering Youth to Combat Teenage Pregnancies in Homabay County

Seated at the foot of Ruri Hills in Suba North with my friends Fred and Gabriel, we found ourselves reflecting on a difficult chapter—one that affected so many in my rural community during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the world battled a virus, our village faced a quieter, heartbreaking crisis: a sharp rise in teenage pregnancies. Schools had shut down. Dreams were paused. Futures were thrown into uncertainty. We watched as young girls—some barely in their teens—were forced to drop out of school, many never to return. It was in this moment of shared sadness and urgency that Ruri Community Alliance was born. We didn't have much—just a vision, a desire to act, and the will to bring change. RuCA became our way of saying, "Not on our watch." A grassroots initiative to restore hope, provide mentorship, and create safe spaces for our young people—especially girls—to reclaim their right to education, health, and a future full of promise. Today, Ruri Community Alliance continues to grow, fueled by the resilience of our people and the belief that communities can rise stronger when they come together. We still have a long journey ahead. But every empowered girl, every classroom seat reclaimed, and every life touched reminds us why we started.