By JANE WAITHIRA
Teenage pregnancies continue to shatter the dreams and ambitions of many young girls, forcing them to abandon their education and shoulder the responsibilities of motherhood at an early age.
Although many young mothers are eager to return to school and pursue their academic and career aspirations, balancing parenthood with education remains a daunting challenge. The situation is even more difficult for those who lack family support and are often forced to choose between raising their children and continuing their studies.
A non-governmental organisation in Mathioya, Murang’a County, is, however, changing that narrative by establishing a daycare crèche where young mothers can safely leave their children while attending vocational classes.
Through a programme dubbed ‘Cha Mama’, the 360 Climate Institute is giving teenage and young mothers a second chance to pursue education, acquire practical skills and rebuild their lives.
The institution’s broader mission is to empower young people by equipping them with vocational skills that enable them to establish income-generating businesses or secure employment in the informal sector.
The programme targets youth who, for various reasons, were unable to advance their education, with teenage mothers forming one of its key beneficiaries.
Jane Njeri, a young mother from Nyandarua County, learnt about the institution and enrolled under the ‘Cha Mama’ programme while she was pregnant. After giving birth, she returned a few months later to complete her training.
Now pursuing a course in Catering and Food Technology, Njeri says the daycare programme has enabled her to continue learning without worrying about the safety and well-being of her baby. She is able to attend lessons and occasionally take short breaks to check on her child.
She explains that back home there was no one available to help care for the baby, making the programme a lifeline.
“This programme has been very helpful because it gives me time to attend classes and acquire skills while my baby is being well taken care of,” said Njeri.
Jane Wanjiku, now a trainer at the institution, is another success story of the initiative. She joined the institution as one of its pioneer students before later being employed as an instructor.
Wanjiku says without the programme, she would probably still be at home struggling to raise her child with little hope of becoming financially independent. Instead, she successfully balanced motherhood with learning and is now earning a living.
“The programme is also helping to fight the stigma associated with teenage motherhood because these young women are becoming empowered and self-reliant,” she said.
Nancy Gakii, a trained nanny in charge of the daycare centre, looks after the children from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday while their mothers attend classes. Her responsibilities include feeding the children, changing diapers and ensuring they remain safe and comfortable throughout the day.
Gakii says many young mothers are forced to abandon education because they have no one to look after their children, but the daycare has eliminated that obstacle.
“The environment is safe, nurturing and child-friendly. I encourage more young mothers who wish to return to school to take advantage of this programme,” she said.
The Chief Executive Officer of 360 Climate Institute, Daniel Irungu, said the daycare crèche programme was launched in 2024 to support young mothers who had dropped out of school after giving birth.
“The institution has created a safe and comfortable environment where children spend the day as their mothers attend classes and build a better future,” said Irungu.
He noted that combining parenting with education is an enormous challenge for many young mothers, making the initiative an essential support system.
“Early parenthood should never mark the end of a young person’s dreams. With the right support, these mothers can complete their education, acquire skills and transform their lives,” he added.
The institution’s founder and board chair, Hannah Muriithi, said the daycare crèche was introduced as a complementary programme to support the youth empowerment initiative.
She explained that after launching the vocational training programme, they realised many young mothers wanted to enrol but lacked childcare support, prompting the institution to establish the crèche.
“Here, we take care of the children while their mothers rebuild their futures through education and skills training,” said Muriithi.
She urged society to replace condemnation with compassion, noting that young mothers deserve encouragement and opportunities rather than stigma.
“We should not condemn young girls for becoming mothers at an early age. Instead, we should support them and give them opportunities to achieve their dreams and become productive members of society,” she added.
