FROM A STATISTIC TO A LEADER: MY JOURNEY OF HEALING AND HOPE AS A TEENAGE MOTHER

My name is Lucy Atieno. I’m a teenage mother and not ashamed of this identity.

My journey began in the quiet corners of Kisumu, not as the leader I am today, but as a young girl overwhelmed by a reality I wasn't prepared for. Becoming a teen mother at 19 felt like a door slamming shut on my future. Like so many others in our informal settlements, I faced the "Triple Threat" of poverty, lack of necessities like sanitary towels, and the crushing weight of social stigma. I spent my days navigating the judgmental whispers of neighbours and the cold stares at public clinics.

The most shattering blow, however, was the rejection from my own parents; being sent away from home was the most difficult moment of my life. The physical challenges of motherhood were difficult, but the mental toll, the anxiety, the shame, and the feeling of being utterly invisible were a burden that felt impossible to carry alone.

Everything changed when I encountered Women Volunteers for Peace (WOVOP) and their "Teen Mom Mental Fridays" project in early 2025. For the first time, I found a space where my status as a mother didn't define my worth. Through the individual and group psychotherapy sessions I was offered with other teen moms, I began to unpack the trauma of my early pregnancy and the isolation that followed. These Friday counselling sessions within the available booths in Kisumu West became my sanctuary; they were the neutral ground I needed away from the crowded, judgmental hospital queues. WOVOP didn't just offer me a listening ear; they offered me a seat at the table by training me as a Trainer of Trainers (ToT) in mental health and psychosocial support techniques, enabling me to participate in community outreach. They taught me how to turn my lived experience into a tool for advocacy, transforming my "shame" into a powerful source of empathy and leadership.

Writing this today, I feel grateful to have the opportunity to even reflect on my life now and how it has changed over the past year.

Empowered by the skills I gained as a Trainer of Trainers (ToT) through The Teen Mom Mentas Fridays project, I realised I couldn't keep this healing to myself. The project deeply inspired me, helping me see that transformation is possible when girls are given safe spaces and support. I began to tnotice he same silent struggles in the eyes of other girls in Kisumu West, and I knew I had to act. I founded a youth group (Tujiunge Na tujijenge Youth Group) that has since grown into a lifeline for the community, currently supporting 200 girls. We provide a haven where at-risk girls and young mothers can access the same peer-to-peer support that saved me. The impact has been tangible and heartening; so far, five of the girls in our group have successfully returned to school, proving that a pregnancy does not have to be the end of a girl’s education. We are moving beyond the statistics and building a sisterhood of resilience.

In addition, working alongside the other trained Teen Mothers as Trainers of Trainers (TOTs) from Seme and Kisumu West, the project has intensified community advocacy against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and cases of defilement. In partnership with OJolla Dispensary, we have supported survivors of sexual abuse by facilitating timely access to essential medical care, psychosocial support, and referral services to ensure a comprehensive response and protection. Further, the team has actively followed up on reported cases at Kombewa Law Courts to promote accountability and justice for survivors. This integrated approach strengthens prevention, survivor support, and legal redress, reinforcing our commitment to protection, healing, and justice within the community.

Through strategic collaboration with community groups and CBOs, we have strengthened the economic resilience of teenage mothers by equipping them with practical livelihood skills. The young mothers have received training in detergent production, beadwork, smart agriculture, and other small-scale income-generating activities, enabling them not only to support their households but also to contribute meaningfully to their communities.

I honestly cannot believe I have already been able to do all thesealready. It's been a stressful and yet fulfilling journey I have walked and continue to walk.

What keeps me going is the determination to build a better future for my child and to prove that early motherhood does not mark the end of one’s dreams. I am committed to expanding the group, reaching more vulnerable teenage mothers and at -risk girls, and continuing to empower young women to become confident, self-reliant, and resilient despite the challenges they face.

Looking at the rising numbers of teen pregnancies in Kisumu in 2026, my recommendations for change are clear and urgent. We must prioritize decentralized mental health care by bringing services directly into the wards through community mental health booths, making support accessible to those too afraid to seek help at large facilities. Furthermore, we must address the root causes of "transactional sex" by ensuring every schoolgirl has access to dignity kits and basic needs. Lastly, we need a collective community effort to enforce re-entry policies in schools and sensitize the transport and industrial sectors to stop the predatory grooming of our girls. We are not just "teen moms"; we are the future of Kisumu, and with the right mental support, we are unstoppable.

This is my story, and I hope it inspires someone out there to realize that a difficult start doesn't mean a difficult finish.