“I Would Like to Live a Better Life:” How Young Mothers Experience Entrepreneurship Education in East Africa

Abstract

This paper examines the capabilities, values, and constraints of young mothers participating in a youth entrepreneurship program in Tanzania and Uganda. Entrepreneurship education is an increasingly popular development strategy for vulnerable and out-of-school youth. The ultimate value of these programs rests in the ability of these youth to convert the knowledge and skills they acquire into valued livelihood opportunities. It is therefore important to understand the characteristics, experiences, and needs of the participants, as well as the socio-economic conditions that shape their abilities to apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills. Findings from this study suggest young mothers enter the program with more dependents, greater economic vulnerability and more business skills than their peers, and require additional social supports in order to take full advantage of their training opportunities.