11 Apr 2016

Stepping Stones International on Thursday celebrated a graduation ceremony of 60 young mothers ranging from 19 to 25 years under the theme Young Yet Woman Enough.

The young mothers support was initiated in 2014 and had about 22 senior school going students and out of school community young mothers who increased as the group advanced and reached out to the entire community.

Addressing the graduands,  programme manager, Ms Beauty Mogasha said hundreds of young people drop out of school due to pregnancy each year adding that adolescent pregnancy brings detrimental social and economic consequences to the pregnant girls.

Ms Mogasha said as stepping stones international, they then introduced a young mothers support group to unlock the potential of vulnerable youth mothers through holistic development, strengthening families and activating sustainable opportunities for them to become self-sufficient. 

She said graduates began their training sessions last year and covered topics such as motherhood and fatherhood, sexual health, goal setting, parenting skills, and role modelling.

She said these topics are vital to young mothers as they enhance their leadership skills and give them opportunities in helping other young women to make well informed choices.

Mogasha said their aims are to develop knowledge and skills in the areas of parenting skills especially that the girls are usually not mature enough to become responsible mothers. She also said they aim to prevent subsequent teen pregnancies and encourage young mothers to speak out about being teen mothers to motivate and help their peers.

She further said they have realised that young mothers are socially stigmatized and do not receive support from their communities hence they came forth to support and instil a sense of hope in them.

For her part Stepping Stones psychosocial support coordinator, Ms Bontlebotsile Sebata said she worked with the alumni and was pleased to see them all graduate. She said most graduates broke loose from the chains of self-blame and ridicule from the families and the community. 

She said young mothers have learnt self-care, self-love and wished all graduates a wonderful endeavor in life.

Giving testimony, Mpho Ramere (25), said she joined the movement in 2014 and was frustrated, felt lonely and faced rejection. Ramere further said she was unemployed and had her first born while awaiting her BGCSE.

“I was a teenager when I had my first born, because of hardships of life, I had my second born in 2012, my boyfriend was absent and I am still a single mother. The only thing that has changed is that today I am a hopeful and employed young mother of two,” Ramere said. Ends