Teenage Pregnancies caused by Poverty and Transactional Relationships
Location:
Mombasa, Kenya
Art Medium:
Posters and Skits
Partner:
Kuza Livelihood Improvement Project
Artist:
Mirfat Mahmoud
The Challenge
In Mombasa, girls from the Sauti ya Dada (SYD) Club interviewed 150 community members to identify the biggest barriers to girls’ education, and found that teenage pregnancy emerged as the most pressing issue. Their findings revealed that poverty and lack of access to basic needs often push girls into transactional relationships, which increase the risk of early pregnancy and lead many to drop out of school.
The Action
In response, the SYD girls created posters and wrote a skit that illustrated how poverty and transactional relationships jeopardize girls’ education. They presented their work to peers, parents, and teachers, sparking honest and open conversations about the daily realities girls face. During the discussion that followed, parents emphasized the importance of paying school fees, providing sanitary pads, and staying actively involved in their daughters’ education. Cultural norms were also challenged, especially the belief that fathers shouldn’t buy pads for their daughters. One father even pledged to begin doing so. Many parents acknowledged the importance of sexual and reproductive health education and credited the SYD program with positively transforming their daughters’ behavior and confidence.
The Impact
• Still in progress. Stay tuned!