Advocating for teen moms through her Fempower Her Initiative, Tracy Yonga is reshaping a story that has long been marked by silence and stigma. Getting pregnant while still a teen is an experience many never wish for, it often comes with shame, dropping out of school, and in some cases, being pushed into early marriages. But that is the narrative Tracy is working to change from the ground up.
Through her lived experience, she’s building Fempower Her, an initiative dedicated to changing this narrative by creating safe spaces, mentorship, and opportunities for teen and single moms to reclaim their dignity and dreams.
Tracy Yonga is a businesswoman, writer, speaker, and the founder of Fempower Her, an initiative dedicated to supporting teen and single mothers through storytelling, advocacy, and empowerment. Drawing from her own lived experience as a teen mom, Tracy is passionate about breaking the cycles of shame, silence, and stigma that hold young women back. Her work focuses on creating safe spaces for emotional healing, encouraging education re-entry, and building pathways to economic empowerment. She is committed to amplifying the voices of young mothers globally, reminding them that teen motherhood should be a chapter, not the whole story.
Beyond her advocacy, Tracy is also invested in the digital economy. As a computer science graduate from Kenyatta University, she runs The Spotlight Media Agency, a dynamic digital agency specializing in brand strategy, social media management, professional moderation, and marketing. Her expertise in web design and development bridges her technical background with creative storytelling, allowing her to help brands grow and connect authentically with their audiences. This balance of tech-driven innovation and human-centered advocacy reflects her commitment to both professional excellence and social impact.
From Lived Experience
“I was 18, brilliant, and full of dreams,” she recalls. “I had just completed high school, passed my final exams, and everyone expected me to soar. But when I found out I was pregnant, admiration quickly turned into hostility. Suddenly, I became the girl everyone whispered about.”
Tracy Yonga, Founder, Fempower Her
Her world shifted overnight. Relatives who once celebrated her turned cold, friends drifted away, and even institutions mirrored society’s harsh judgment.
“Relatives who once praised me grew cold, friends distanced themselves, and even institutions I thought would protect me mirrored society’s stigma.”
Institutions betrayed her, but what are institutions if not us? The church, the school, the very systems we uphold, aren’t they built on our choices, our silence, our actions? Sadly, we are often quick to judge. When someone is abandoned, is it not you and I who turn away? What role do you play, do you stand with them, or do you echo society’s stigma?
Tracy remembers most vividly the confusion and isolation that wrapped around her like a cloak. That loneliness left her vulnerable to a manipulative partner, pulling her deeper into cycles of abuse. Before she could reclaim her education, she faced a second pregnancy, and with it, the crushing weight of lost opportunities.
Yet, in her struggles, her mother remained present. “Her love pulled me from the edge. She reminded me that I was not defined by my mistakes, and when the time came, she helped me find the courage to leave the abusive relationship,” Tracy shares. That unconditional support became the seed of her healing, proof that even a single hand extended in compassion can begin to rebuild a life.
It was from this journey of pain and restoration that Fempower Her was born.
“I know the toll of shame, the anxiety of an uncertain future, the loss of education, and the vulnerability to predatory partners. But I also know the power of support, safe spaces, and second chances. Fempower Her is my way of turning that pain into purpose, so no young mother ever feels as alone as I once did.”
Tracy Yonga, Founder, Fempower Her
When asked what inspired Fempower Her, Tracy’s answer is clear:
“The hardest part of teen pregnancy wasn’t just the pregnancy, it was what followed: the shame, the mental health battles, the silence, the lost opportunities. Teen pregnancy doesn’t only interrupt education, it interrupts dreams, and often traps families in cycles of generational poverty.”
Tracy Yonga, Founder, Fempower Her
She envisioned the very space she once needed: a safe, affirming environment where stigma is replaced by understanding.
“I wanted to build the kind of space I needed back then. A space where no one asks, ‘What’s wrong with her?’ but instead, ‘What has she been through, and how can we walk with her?’ That’s why Fempower Her exists: to provide emotional healing for girls who carry shame, to support education and economic empowerment for those whose futures feel stolen, and to create safe spaces where they are seen as more than their mistakes. Silence and shame are bigger barriers than motherhood itself.”
Leading With Heart and Healing
For Tracy Yonga, leadership is not about titles or authority, it is about presence, empathy, and walking the journey alongside those she serves.
“I don’t see myself as just a founder,” she explains. “I see myself as a sister walking alongside them. I show up with my scars visible, because I lead not from a boardroom, but from the heart of someone who has lived this journey.”
This perspective defines her role at Fempower Her. Rather than positioning herself above the young mothers she supports, Tracy meets them eye-to-eye. Her greatest strength lies in listening, creating spaces where shame cannot thrive and where every girl feels seen.
“My role is to listen with care, to truly understand and support, create safe spaces where shame has no power, and to remind young mothers that their future is still valid. Healing happens when a woman realizes she is not alone in her story.”
Central to her work is a trauma-informed approach, one that acknowledges the silent battles beneath the surface.
“Trauma leaves invisible scars, and our approach begins with recognizing them. It’s not about asking, ‘What’s wrong with her?’ but instead, ‘What has she been through?’”
At Fempower Her, conversations about stress, anxiety, and depression are normalized, lifting the weight of secrecy that often keeps young mothers trapped.
For those unfamiliar with the term, a trauma-informed approach simply means recognizing that past pain often shapes present behavior. Instead of blaming or judging, it asks how experiences of abuse, rejection, or shame may be influencing a young mother’s choices today.
From a psychological perspective, a trauma-informed approach recognizes that painful experiences are not left in the past, they shape how people think, feel, and behave in the present. Trauma alters the brain’s stress responses, often leaving individuals more vulnerable to anxiety, depression, shame, and self-blame. For many teen mothers, rejection from family, loss of education, and even abuse compound these effects, creating patterns that can trap them in cycles of silence and low self-worth. Without addressing these hidden wounds, any attempt at empowerment risks being shallow, treating the surface while the roots remain broken.
This understanding is why Fempower Her places trauma-informed care at the heart of its mission. Tracy’s own journey taught her that healing must come before growth. By recognizing trauma, the initiative ensures its programs don’t just offer education or skills, but also emotional safety. Support groups, open conversations about mental health, and mentorship allow young mothers to process their pain while reimagining their futures. In this way, Fempower Her doesn’t just address the symptoms of teen motherhood, it heals the roots, giving girls the resilience to break cycles of shame and poverty.
Tracy and her team also equip girls with tools to resist cycles of exploitation and abuse.
“We talk openly about how loneliness can push girls into abusive or predatory relationships, and we give them tools to set boundaries and rebuild healthier futures. Most importantly, we help them re-narrate their stories. Because empowerment without healing is like building on broken ground.”
Tracy Yonga, Founder, Fempower Her
Rising Above Challenges, Creating Impact
Like many grassroots initiatives, Fempower Her’s path has not been without obstacles. Tracy points out that the greatest hurdle is not simply a lack of resources, but the heavy weight of stigma.
“One of the hardest challenges has been stigma. Cultural and even institutional attitudes still silence many young mothers before they can ask for help. I’ve seen how a girl’s dreams can be dismissed the moment she becomes a mother, as though her potential no longer matters. The hardest battle is not lack of resources, it’s dismantling stigma.”
Yet, resources remain another constant struggle. With limited funding, starting and sustaining programs has demanded both creativity and persistence.
“There are moments when the vision feels bigger than the resources available, but the conviction that this work matters keeps me moving forward. Passion may ignite the vision, but resilience keeps it alive,”
Tracy Yonga, Founder, Fempower Her
But in the face of these challenges, impact stories shine as proof that the struggle is worth it. Tracy recalls one encounter that continues to affirm her mission.
“Not too long ago, I met a very young woman. She already had a three-year-old daughter and was pregnant again. She lived with the father of her children, a man who abused her, cheated on her, and often left her starving, even in her pregnant state. I met her by chance along the road, and we struck up a conversation. She reminded me so much of myself at her age, carrying the weight of hopelessness.”
Instead of walking away, Tracy chose to walk with her. Through small acts of kindness, encouragement, and consistent presence, she earned the young woman’s trust and reminded her that change was possible.
“A year later, she had left the abusive relationship, secured a job, and was providing for her children. When I saw her again, she was glowing. She looked her age. My heart swelled with pride and joy at who she had become.”
For Tracy, the impact went beyond one life, it marked a generational shift.
“Her story affirmed to me that what we do matters. When a young mother finds her voice and takes back her power, it doesn’t just change her, it changes the story for her children, too.”
Stories like these highlight more than individual victories, they reveal the power of refusing to be defined by hardship. From such impact moments, we learn that no matter the situation, one must never allow learned helplessness to take control.
In psychology, learned helplessness is the state where repeated setbacks convince someone that change is impossible, so they stop trying even when opportunities arise.
Tracy’s work shows the opposite: as long as you are willing to reclaim yourself, avenues for healing and growth will always exist. Initiatives like Fempower Her become those avenues, safe bridges that guide young mothers from despair to dignity, proving that transformation is always within reach.
Building Bridges to the Future
As Tracy reflects on Fempower Her’s journey so far, she is quick to emphasize that true change requires community.
“Since the organization is still in its formative stages, what we’re looking for most are collaborators who share the vision, partners in mental health support, education re-entry, and economic empowerment. We can’t end generational cycles alone, partnership is the bridge. Even small acts of collaboration can help build the foundation for long-term change.”
Tracy Yonga, Founder, Fempower Her
For those who want to connect with her or follow Fempower Her’s work, Tracy is most active on social platforms, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok: @TracyYonga, and can be reached directly via email at tracyyonga1@gmail.com. She invites anyone who believes in the cause to join hands in building solutions from the ground up.
I am calling upon all organizations working in aligned spaces to consider joining hands with the Fempower Her Initiative. This includes those advancing mental health and psychosocial support, feminist advocacy groups amplifying women’s voices, educators shaping inclusive learning environments, and economic empowerment programs opening doors of opportunity. Together, such collaborations can create a more holistic support system for teen and single mothers, ensuring that their dignity, aspirations, and potential are fully recognized and nurtured. It’s a collective act of hope that says no dream is too far, and no mother is too alone to rise again.
Looking ahead, her vision is both bold and deeply personal.
“I want young mothers to be restored to dignity, possibility, and leadership. Teen motherhood should be a chapter, not the whole story. For Fempower Her, I see growth into a global movement, a platform that gives young mothers safe spaces to heal, tools to rebuild, and courage to dream again. My dream is to see a generation of women who once carried shame now walking in confidence and raising children who inherit resilience instead of silence.”
Fempower Her’s future is grounded in this transformative vision, one that breaks cycles of shame and poverty by restoring hope. You’ve seen what Tracy is building; it is proof that even the smallest beginnings can ignite lasting change. With the right partnerships in mental health, education, and economic empowerment, this work can grow from local beginnings into a movement that touches lives far beyond her own community.
In doing so, may many rise, may those who once felt trapped see that change is possible, reclaim themselves, and step into a renewed sense of dignity and purpose.
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