Female sex workers have demonstrated that their lifestyle does not discredit them as far as education of their children is concerned.

As a matter of example, the female sex workers from Musanze district, Northern Province shared their success story on their children upbringing.

Philomène Kamabera, is a female sex worker with a son of 17 years old. The son, she says, knows that she is a sex worker and this to some extent affect.

“In our society they shout up about prostitution especially for the women. In 2017 other children told him that they couldn’t associate with me because I am son of prostitute. When came back, he gave me that report, very sad,” Said Kamabera.

The child suffered stigma for a while.

The Global Fund/CCM Rwanda financed campaigns to encourage female sex workers to boldly accept themselves and be able to tell their children about their life and how they ended there.

“In 2020, I started to share my life with my son because now he is in high school class 4. I told him that I decided to be a female sex worker in order to get his school fees because his father had abandoned us,” Kamabera said.

Iragena Marie Chantal from Musanze district, another female sex worker and mother of three also experienced a similar challenge but overcame.

Sex workers are advised to tell their children the truth about their life in order to prevent psychological consequences in their life.