For many adolescent mothers, motherhood arrives even before they have had the chance to understand themselves or shape their dreams and it is often more than caring for a baby, as they are sometimes forced to leave school, face stigma and rejection, endure economic hardship and social isolation and put their whole careers on hold.
The struggle to raise a child while still searching for direction in their young lives can be unbearable, but doing so without a helping hand to care for the baby at the period of rebuilding their dreams and chasing lost opportunities can be more agonising and demoralising.
It is against this background that the Anglican Diocesan Development and Relief Organisation (ADDRO), in collaboration with the Builsa North Municipal Assembly, has built and inaugurated an Early Childhood Safe Space Centre at Sandema to provide support for adolescent mothers and their young children.
The facility, funded by Episcopal Relief & Development, USA, is intended to provide a safe and nurturing environment where adolescent mothers can access childcare, psychosocial support, skills development and other services to improve their wellbeing and that of their children.
Hope
At the inauguration ceremony, the Executive Director of ADDRO, Emmanuel Tia Nabila, said the facility was not merely a building but a place where hope, dignity and opportunities could be restored to young mothers and their children.
“Today is more than the opening of a building. It is the opening of a door to hope, dignity, opportunity and a better future for adolescent mothers and their children,” he said.
He explained that ADDRO recognised the difficulties confronting adolescent mothers and wanted to create an environment where they could regain confidence, develop their potential and build better futures for themselves and their children.
“Beyond childcare, the centre is designed to provide childcare services for children aged between zero and 36 months, with a focus on their early development, protection and wellbeing, and to serve as a hub for caregiver support and peer-to-peer learning group meetings, where adolescent mothers can share experiences and learn from one another,” he added.
He emphasised that the centre would also offer home visits, psychosocial support, skills training and nutrition support, including cooking demonstrations and kitchen garden assistance and access to sexual and reproductive health services, while the children would benefit from child welfare and screening services.
First 1,000 days
The Director of Integrated Early Childhood Development Programme at Episcopal Relief & Development, USA, Geraldine Sicola, said the organisation's interest in the project was rooted in the importance of early childhood development.
She said the first 1,000 days of a child's life were critical, noting that about 80 per cent of brain development occurred during the period from birth to three years.
She described the development of children as a shared responsibility that required a supportive ecosystem involving families, communities, governments and development organisations.
“The wellbeing of caregivers and mothers is the most important, if your needs are not attended to, then the children cannot thrive and develop,” she said.
She urged the adolescent mothers to prioritise their children, take care of their own wellbeing and mentor other young people to make responsible decisions about their future.
Sustainability
The Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Tamale, the Rt Rev. Denis Debukari Tong, commended ADDRO and its partners for the initiative and called for measures to sustain the centre beyond the period of external funding.
The Overlord Queen Mother of the Builsa Traditional Area, Pognab Atabalie Azantilow, appealed to community members, particularly those with resources to support the centre with their time, expertise and other forms of assistance.
The Builsa North Municipal Chief Executive, Solomon Akogti, urged residents to take ownership of the facility and protect it from abuse and neglect.
He assured ADDRO and its partners that the municipal assembly would continue to collaborate with stakeholders to ensure that the centre remained functional, accessible and sustainable.
