Dear Little Sister
Teenage pregnancy is a tragedy uncalled for which leaves many unsure of whether they can trust this life to take them to their desired destinies. One thing is however clear that the culprits kindle a fire they are unable to put out.
When I was in high school during one of the midterm breaks, my jubilant mother came to receive me at the gate with tears in her eyes. The usually beautiful smile replaced by sadness.
'Your sister is pregnant' she told me as she sobbed uncontrollably. It broke my heart to see her crying. My sister was only a year older than me. My heart beat fast and I went into a state of confusion not knowing whether to say sorry to mother or ask her a thousand questions that went through my mind. Tears flowed freely from my eyes.
‘Will my sister’s education come to an end?’
‘Who is responsible for her pregnancy?’
I wondered as we sat outside our grass thatched hut that seemed to join in our sorrow though in silence.
That marked the end of her academic journey and opened a chapter of marriage life young as she was.
I vowed to myself that I would not allow teenage pregnancy to snatch my education away from me and steal my mother’s beautiful smile but there was one problem.
‘What about my little sisters?'
I am the second born in a family of six; five girls and one boy.
How will I make my sisters understand how mother felt when she learned that our sister was pregnant? How will I make them know the cost they would pay if they became pregnant as teenagers? How will I change the community beliefs that teenage pregnancy marks the end of a girl’s education and subsequently her future dreams?
If my sister had someone to guide her on teenage challenges and defend her right to education, maybe it would be a different story. I vowed to change the story. I wrote ‘Dear Little Sister Book’ in the form of a letter to my little sisters. I founded ‘Dear Little Sister Foundation’ as a passionate attempt to reach out not only to my little sisters but to every little sister out there with this message: Don't let teenage pregnancy steal that beautiful smile from your mom. Don’t let teenage pregnancy cut short your dreams. Motherhood waits!
I am confident that one day, my community leaders will understand their role in ending teenage pregnancy and child marriage and the importance of giving a teenage mother a second chance to pursue her academic dreams.
Until then, I will keep holding consultative forums with them while fighting for girls' rights through my change project and book. This way,dreams are being fulfilled one girl at a time.