“I was shocked when I spent a month in my community for holidays, and I saw pregnant children and teenage moms walking on the streets. One was 12 years old and greeted me with a protruding belly. I had never seen anything like that before.” – says Favour Abatang, Founder of Her Voice Foundation (HVF).
In Cross River State, Nigeria, Favour Abatang is challenging outdated practices against young girls and supporting hundreds of teenage mothers and at-risk girls in underserved communities. When Abatang saw girls in her community being married off too young or their education cut short by teenage pregnancies, she moved to change the narrative. She wanted to act quickly, so in 2020, she formed a team and started a foundation.
Founding Her Voice Foundation (HVF)
Her Voice Foundation (HVF), formerly known as Campus Babe Initiative, was set up to create a safe space for teenage mothers and girls from lowly backgrounds who were at risk of early marriage. The primary goal of the Foundation is to deal with teenage pregnancy, child marriage, and societal neglect by empowering girls with skills, education, and hope.
The Foundation’s first significant project targeted 500 teenage mothers and adolescents in Cross River State. Abatang’s team provided vocational training, counselling, and opportunities for these girls to become financially independent.
Teenage mothers like Naomi have benefited from their Second Chance Entrepreneurship skill training. With the start-up kit she received, she makes money to support herself and her child. Many Teenage mothers from Cross River State have also been given a second chance at education with the Foundation’s help.
Fighting Money Marriage
Her Voice Foundation also fights against harmful practices like Money Marriage – a troubling practice in Cross River State and other parts of Nigeria where families marry off young girls to settle debts or repay loans. These girls end up losing their childhoods and become glorified servants – with some even suffering physical, emotional and mental abuse.
“My Family married me out of hunger. There was no food at home, and my parents were hungry. So they gave me out and collected food to eat in return.” – Endurance Ikpe, a victim from Obanliku Local Government, Cross River State, said.
This year, Her Voice Foundation launched the Empowering Survivors through Transformative Education and Entrepreneurship (EMPOWER) Project to support 50 survivors of money marriage through entrepreneurship training and start-up kits provision.
The Foundation also organised the Inside-Out 360 Project, which showcased the beauty of 50 survivors of Money Marriage through a runway fashion event. This event reminded these girls that they were still royalty regardless of everything they had been through.
HVFs impact in facts and figures.
Favour Abatang received the prestigious Diana Award in 2023 and the Africa Women Changemaker/Impact award in the Girl Child Education Champion category for her good work.
Through her initiatives, she has helped over 7000 young girls. This year, 150 beneficiaries gained access to education. In August, four teenage mothers excelled in the Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE) and are ready to advance to tertiary institutions. Additionally, 100 girls have also acquired foundational skills.
Favour Abatang is giving these girls hope. She looks forward to a Nigeria where every girl has access to education and the freedom to choose her future.
