With the backdrop of school closures, economic challenges occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic, numerous adolescent girls faced teenage pregnancies and early marriages.
And as a result majority of them had no other promising option than dropping out of school to take care of their babies.
However, there is a glimpse of hope for such teenage mothers whose education lives appeared to have been cut short by their pregnancies after a center to take care of them opened doors in Subukia, Nakuru County.
Prestige Academy, located at Munanda location in the outskirt of Subukia town is now a home for over 40 teenage mothers who fell victims of early pregnancies at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Here, the young girls have been offered an opportunity to continue with their education for free and are also provided with a home-based care from caregivers who assist them in handling their babies while they are in class.
According to one of the students in the institution, fear of stigmatization, ridicule and abuse from other learners was a hindrance for many teen mothers to go back to their original institutions, unlike joining an institution where they learn with fellow young mothers who are facing the same challenges.
Though at times she would regret why she ever gave birth, she, like many others have now found a place to call home where she can still pursue her dreams, and still is able to look after her charming baby girl.
The school has contracted care givers and a nurse who are always there to look after the welfare of both the girls and their babies.
A visit to the school, we find teenage mothers sitting across from each other engaged in chats and giggles, while some of the babies lying on the mattress are either sleeping, or simply gazing at the new found environment.
Teenage pregnancy raids girls of their childhood’s joy, their education and dims their futures, but according to the directors of the institution of learning, there is a need to fill the gap and give new hope for the girls.
Gladys Kemunto, the school’s Principal says majority of the young girls had dropped out of school since their parents and presumably the society had given up on them.
She observed that the learners have expressed their willingness to continue with their education despite their challenges and hence calls on other well-wishers to come to their aid to enable them to bring up their kids and also continue with their learning.
She notes that the best thing is to bring such teenage mothers together because they experience the same challenges and hence are able to tackle them together and still enjoy their lives.
In an attempt to end the stigma subjected to girls who fall pregnant in their teen years, the Principal says Prestige Academy offers an inspiration to change societal norms.
The objective of the school is to provide special services for the student mothers to ensure they continue with their education without being separated from their children.
Catherine Nuthu, assistant Chief, Munanda sub-location praises the new development for a rescue center saying this offers another chance for the teenagers.
Though she attributes the early pregnancies to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, she blames the society for moral decay.
She has however called on parents to ensure they take good care of their children and ensure they play their parental roles responsibly.
She also caution individuals engaging in sexual activities with young girls saying the government will not relent on cracking a whip on them and have them face the full force of the law.
Though this is a societal problem, she says there is still hope to re-correct those who have fallen victims of early or teenage pregnancies.