Conquering Dreams After Falling Off
By Agatha Mali, Communications, Zambia
Agnes was just 16 when her life took an unexpected turn. Living with her parents in Muloongo village of Pemba District in Zambia, her hopes and dreams of becoming a teacher came to a stand when she discovered that she was pregnant while in seventh grade.
Overwhelmed by the weight of her situation and the stigma that followed, Agnes felt she had no choice but to drop out of school. Her once-clear path to a bright future now seemed like a distant memory.
Like in any other community, Agnes faced judgment from her community and the isolation of being a young expecting mother. The boy who was responsible for the pregnancy was nowhere to be seen, and his family was not supporting Agnes in any way.
“I always felt embarrassed, and I chose to stay indoors most of the time because every time I was in public, I could hear some community members would talk about me,” says Agnes, now 18.
In the months that followed, Agnes’ pregnancy progressed. She was due and delivered a healthy baby girl. During this time, she had already given up her hopes on education and decided to focus on raising her baby. Though she deeply loved her daughter, the responsibilities of motherhood at such a young age left her feeling overwhelmed and trapped in hopelessness.
As time went on, advocates and young journalists from her school noticed the growing sadness in Agness. Determined to help her find her way again, they visited Agnes at her home regularly, offering support and encouragement.
“The young journalists' visits reminded me of my dreams and how much potential I still had. They encouraged me to return to school through the re-entry policy,” she says. “Their visits and words rejuvenated my hopes, and once again, I saw my bright future.”
Despite her doubts and many challenges of going back to school as a young mother at the same time a schoolgirl, Agnes could not ignore the desire to go back to school and continue with her education. “The decision was not easy because I had to balance between studies and caring for my daughter, but I had to take a bold step and return to school,” she narrates.
While the journey and change were difficult, Agnes found strength in her purpose and untiring support from the young journalists, and slowly, she began to rebuild her confidence and getting good grades in class.
To encourage other girls who have been in a similar situation like hers before, Agnes helps the young journalists’s club to sensitise parents and children on the importance of education and also creates awareness on the re-entry policy.
Today, Agnes is a passionate advocate of education , especially for young mothers who are especially for young mothers going through what she experienced.
“I want to work hard in school so that I can have a bright future and be able to take care and provide for my child so that she should never go through what I have been through,” she says. “And that is the reason I stand here to encourage other girls and boys to focus on education. I also caution parents to encourage their children to pay attention to school and not play around.”
World Vision Zambia has trained over 500 in-school children called young journalists in Communications for Development (C4D) to help bring out community stories of change and transformation. The young journalists also stand for their fellow children in the communities and schools as advocates on issues related to child protection.
And Agnes is one of the children whose life has been impacted by the young journalists.