The Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association and the Young Women’s Christian Association on Tuesday launched their ‘Still I Rise: Reintegration of Teen Mothers in Education’ project.
According to a GINA press release, the project, which seeks to empower, educate and support teen mothers and their families will be held in two phases: the first phase from July to December 2016, and the second from January to June 2017. Each phase will accommodate 25 girls.
The release stated that the beneficiaries will be supported with the basic items to re-enter the school system, education sessions focussing on sexuality education, personal development, psychosocial support and family advocacy actions for the introduction and implementation of the reintegration strategy under the Ministry of Education. The release quoted Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry as saying in her feature address that “Teenage pregnancy is a complex issue which has multi-contributing factors that are common knowledge to many. It is a symptom of a bigger societal sickness, it is not just a health issue, but a developmental issue that is deeply rooted in poverty, gender inequality, violence, child and forced marriages, power imbalance between teenage girls and their male partners, lack of education and the failure of systems and institutions to protect this vulnerable group.”
According to the release, the Minister added that teenage pregnancy is one of the most pervasive problems impacting education, the health sector and socio-economic and political empowerment of our young women.
After speaking on the causes and impact of teenage pregnancy and challenges of young mothers, Henry suggested that access to age appropriate, accurate and comprehensive information on sexual education and critical thinking skills can help minimise teenage pregnancy, the release stated.
