Nei Mom Uprising is Kiribati's only organisation dedicated to empowering teen and young mothers, helping them reach their fullest potential on their own terms.
Founded by Young Mothers. Built for a Brighter Future.
Nei Mom Uprising began in 2017 with a simple but powerful vision: young mothers supporting young mothers to dream bigger, believe in themselves, and build a better future for their families.
The movement was founded by Lily Brechtefeld Kumkee, alongside co-founder Tekateteke Metai. Together, they envisioned a space where teen and young mothers could find encouragement, share their experiences, develop their potential, and pursue their goals without being defined by the challenges they face.
In 2018, Bioua Tokaiti joined the team, helping strengthen the organisation's early growth and its work with teen and young mothers across Kiribati.
On 29 July 2018, Nei Mom Uprising held its first face-to-face meeting. It was a small but significant beginning—a moment where ideas became plans and a growing community began to take shape.
Our Journey Continues
Today, Nei Mom Uprising is more than an organisation. It is a movement powered by young mothers, for young mothers.
We believe that becoming a mother should never mean giving up on your dreams. Through connection, encouragement, advocacy, and opportunities, we support young mothers to overcome challenges, discover their strengths, and create brighter futures for themselves and their children.
Our story started with a few young mothers who believed change was possible.
Today, we continue that journey—together.
Nei Mom Uprising is governed by an elected Board of Executive Directors, meeting monthly to guide the organisation's work on behalf of our members.
Elected leadership overseeing governance and strategic direction.
Programme directors delivering our climate, culture, fundraising, media, business, sport and project work.
Vision: We envision Kiribati as a country in which all young mothers and women are nurtured and empowered to reach their fullest potential.
Mission: To empower young mothers and women in their journey to reaching their full potential by providing them with relevant daily life skills, entrepreneurial skills, opportunities and changing the mindsets of the community towards young mothers and marginalized women.
Promoting equal rights, opportunities and participation for women and girls.
Recognising the inherent dignity, worth and rights of every person.
Supporting women and girls to build confidence, exercise their rights and make informed decisions.
Ensuring that women and girls, particularly those who may experience additional barriers, are able to participate and have their voices heard.
Acting honestly, transparently and responsibly in all organisational activities.
Working collectively with women, communities, civil society, government and development partners to achieve positive change.
Ensuring that organisational activities prioritise the safety, dignity, privacy and wellbeing of women and girls.
Building trusting relationships and strong partnerships.
We are determined to make real, lasting improvements in the lives of our members by working to transform the root causes of discrimination as stepping stones towards empowerment.
We respect the diverse experiences, identities, knowledge and skills of women, and we strive to empower our members so they can realise their full potential and rights.
We shall always be humble and simple, upholding good values and attitudes as champions of women's empowerment in Kiribati in all sectors, with our culture and our identity at the centre of all the work we do.
We believe that we need champions to inspire, empower and support our young women and unemployed mothers. As I-Kiribati women, we find aspiration in the persistence of women like us, who against the odds work hard towards a successful and sustainable future.
Young girls who become pregnant due to social pressures often face discrimination and stigma as adolescent parents.
Becoming a parent at a young age can bring shame from family and community, and disrupt access to education.
Many young mothers find themselves stuck in abusive relationships, with no means to walk away due to their dependence on a spouse or family.
Unsupported young mothers, many without completed schooling, struggle to find decent work, a root cause of poverty in Kiribati.
Founded by Lily Brechtefeld Kumkee, with Tekateteke Metai as Co-founder, Nei Mom Uprising begins its mission to support and empower teen and young mothers in Kiribati.
One of Nei Mom Uprising’s founders received the Queen’s Young Leader Award in recognition of her work supporting and empowering young mothers.
Nei Mom Uprising Inc. is legally registered under Kiribati's Incorporated Societies Act 2002.
Secures Oxfam funding for capacity building and launches its weightloss fundraising programme.
With EJA funding, Youth Challenge League Bonriki stages a drama on discrimination and stigma.
Launches Phase 1: building resilience against climate change and COVID-19 for the community.
Releases a documentary on teenage pregnancy, calling for greater support from parents.
Awarded unrestricted funding to advance gender justice through sport across the Pacific.
Brings attention to climate justice through PIFA4C3, and joins the Shifting the Power Coalition.
Secures SPC funding for health training, and recruits its first two staff members.
Nei Mom Uprising works in partnership with government institutions, NGOs and church groups to ensure young mothers, women and girls are nurtured and empowered to reach their full potential.
KSA
"May God's blessings and our traditional blessings of te Mauri (Good Health), Te Raoi (Peace) and Te Tabomoa (Prosperity) be with us all in our journey to improve the status and livelihoods of young women and their children in Kiribati."
