Teen pregnancies are a major challenge for socioeconomic development because they deprive young girls the opportunity to further their education and attain their career goals. In addition to the stigma and rejection that is associated with teenage pregnancies, the pregnancies pose serious health, psycho social and economic dangers to girls such as messing up their reproductive health during childbirth and keeping them in a vicious cycle of poverty. Global Peace Women seeks to uplift women’s value and dignity by helping women globally to embrace their God-give gifts to inspire self-confidence, love and self-respect.
Between March and August, 2022, thirty teen mothers from Dandora Community participated in My body, My health, My Life; Dandora - Kenya, Teen mothers’ health education and mentorship project. The project was implemented by Wairimu Mwangi, the founder of Literature Africa Foundation and a GPWLA graduate upon receipt of the GWD grant. It was aimed at enlightening girls who are teen mothers between the ages of 13-19 years on mental health, menstrual hygiene and equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to safeguard their health and dignity.
Through the six part training, the project targeted to also improve the mental health and self-confidence of the teen mothers by uplifting their intrinsic qualities as women. The project training activities covered the topics of; menstrual hygiene, self-awareness, decision making & emotional skills, social skills and relationships as well as education & Leadership. The participants also received sanitary pads for the entire period of the project.
“In the end, the 30 teen mothers were commissioned as Ambassadors of Change (AOCs) in Dandora Community. Their role as AOCs will be to help 300 high school girls from Dandora phase 1 to better understand menstrual hygiene as well as to prioritize their education, dignity and mental health,” said Wairimu.
The project brought together Dandora community members including teen mothers, their families, volunteers, local administration and grassroots organizations like PYWV. The project which also promoted the GPW vision of one family under God was hailed by the participants who shared their gratitude for the compassion the team had shown them.
“I feel hopeful and grateful for the care you have shown us throughout my body my health my life project. In deed being a teen mother is not the end of the opportunities that I can pursue. Thank you and God bless you,” said Hanifa.
The participants conveyed their happiness as a result of the skills learnt and the helpful information they had received on how to safeguard their health and wellbeing.
“Participating in my body, my health my life project has allowed me to understand how I should care for my body during my menstrual period. I will be sure to pass this knowledge to my daughter Tiffan when she is of age. Thank you GPW and Literature Africa Foundation,” shared Sharon, a participant in the project.
Expressing their gratitude for the support they had received from GPW, the project team was hopeful in the continuity of the project.
“I hope to continue being part of this project to ensure that our messages of hope do not end here and now; but rather, the girls continue supporting each other within the community,” shared Milkah who was one of the trainers.