We are thrilled to announce that Young Mums Unite (YMU) has been selected as a winner of the global 4HerPower Challenge, an innovation initiative by UNFPA and MIT Solve that celebrates groundbreaking solutions supporting women and girls’ health and rights.
This recognition is a powerful affirmation of our mission—to empower young mothers through community, knowledge, and access to care. YMU was chosen from hundreds of entries across Africa for our peer-led support groups, reproductive health workshops, and our growing impact across Tanzania.
“This award belongs to every young mother who chose courage over silence,” said Juliana Magesa, founder of Young Mums Unite. “We started with just a few young women in Shinyanga—today we’re 120,000 strong across five regions. This is their victory too.”
Why YMU Stood Out
The 4HerPower Challenge looked for bold, youth-led innovations improving sexual and reproductive health and rights. YMU stood out for our:
- Peer Support Group Model – Local, trained young moms leading safe, supportive circles for others
- SRHR Education – Reaching vulnerable youth with critical information and tools
- Health Referrals & Mental Health Support – Connecting girls to clinics and counselors when it matters most
- Scalable Design – A model that works in both urban and rural regions of Tanzania
What This Means for the Future
Winning the 4HerPower Challenge provides Young Mums Unite with new resources, mentorship, and global visibility to expand our reach and strengthen our impact. We plan to:
- Launch new support groups in underserved regions
- Develop digital tools for SRHR education
- Train over 100 new peer facilitators in 2026
- Build deeper partnerships with health providers and community leaders
Thank You
To every mother who trusted us with her story, every facilitator who showed up week after week, and every partner who believed in our work—this is your win too.
Let’s keep rising together.
Let’s keep uniting.
— The YMU Team