Since 2006, Sauti Moja’s Child Mother
Program has facilitated continued educational opportunities for girls who
become pregnant while students and, therefore, face shattered dreams, new
responsibilities, and uncertain futures.
Plight
of Child Mothers
In
both Kenya and Tanzania, becoming pregnant while studying can signal the end of
a girl’s education. In communities where Sauti Moja works, reactions to
pregnancy are different, but the consequences are equally serious. Some communities,
such as the Borana and Gabra of northern Kenya have a very conservative
response to child pregnancy, and due to social stigma and shame a pregnant girl
may be cast out of the family and community. She loses her educational
opportunity, due to lack of support for herself and child. In Tanzania, a
pregnant student is permanently expelled from the public school system. Some
Maasai families that place a lower value on education of girls which coupled
with loss of affordable education often results in the child mother being
forced into early marriage.
Sauti
Moja Needs Your Help
You
can help restore a young girl’s dreams by becoming a sponsor. Your sponsorship
will make it possible for Sauti Moja to support child mothers by:
• Counseling pregnant girls, mediating with
her parents, and negotiating return to school;
• Ensuring healthy choices during pregnancy
and safe delivery of the baby;
• Lobbying schools to accept child mothers
and facilitating enrolment;
• Paying school fees, transport costs, and
personal support costs;
• Training girls in childcare; and
monitoring the baby’s health.
Your $90/month will provide a child mother
with new hope by enabling her to realize her dream of a good education and
becoming self-sufficient. For further information, please contact
mail@sautimoja.org or go to www.sautimoja.org.
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