Sylvia’s journey: From Struggle to Strength
My name is Sylvia, and I am 18 years old, from Kilolo District, Ilula Ward, and today I am standing here to tell you about the journey of my life. My thoughts go back to a long and difficult journey I went through. It is a story of challenge, judgment, and suffering, but it is also a story of perseverance, hope, and the power of education and support.
When I got pregnant at the age of 16, in the year2022, I was a form two student, and my world suddenly 
shuttered. Fear swept over me like a hurricane, thinking about how my mother and my community would react to my situation. I tried so hard to hide my pregnancy while studying and every day became a dogfight between hiding my growing belly, dealing with stress and school. Despite all the challenges, I continued to attend classes and tried to focus on my studies.
But secrets like these don’t last, after few months of being pregnant my belly grew and my pregnancy was in the lime light, in a blink the society quickly turned against me. I became everyone’s laughing stock, the subject of jokes and ridicule. My mother, overwhelmed by social pressure, took me out of the house. I had nowhere to go at that time and she had no option; I then decided to seek refuge to my grandmother who lives in a neighboring village.
Living with my grandmother was a blessing and a challenge at the same time. The rural environment did not provide opportunity, stability and enough support for a young mother like me. The responsibilities of being a mother were heavy, and loneliness seemed to overwhelm me. But it was there, in my grandmother’s small house, that I found hope. This happened at the time when the Peer educators from the Strengthen Youth Voice Project visited our village.
First of all, it was through the Bonanza held in my village (Image Village), as one of the attendees, the Peer Educators through teaching showed me a world of knowledge and support that I had never known. They provided me with a friendly SRHR education. For the first time, I knew about the availability of accurate and youth friendly SRHR services. They spoke to me with respect and understanding, breaking down the walls of shame and stigma that had surrounded me since my pregnancy was discovered.
Through this project, I got not only information but also information about the community because one of the Peer Educators, Sister Irene, invited me to the IIula Orphan Program (IOP) center to learn more about Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. By visiting IOP center I met with other young mothers who faced challenges like mine, and together we have been able to strengthen the existing network of support. Peer educators provided guidance on everything from contraceptive options to childcare, empowering us to make informed decisions about our health and future.
With renewed confidence, I began to rebuild my life. I moved to Ilula, where I got a job and started saving. My experience taught me perseverance and determination. I have become an advocate for youth-friendly SRHR services, sharing my story to inspire others and break the cycle of stigma and misinformation especially to young mothers who are left behind with access to SRHR information.
All I can say is, my journey has been a good testimony to my peers. It shows the need for accessing accurate SRHR education, and at the right time, if I had met peer educators and received the reproductive health education earlier, I am sure childhood pregnancy could not be my portion. My story is a reminder that with the right education and support, even the most difficult SRHR obstacles can be solved, and society can overcome the stigmatizing behavior towards young people when they experience any reproductive health challenge.
To all the young people out there, I want you to know that you are not alone. There is help and enough SRHR information out there, and it is okay to seek it, knowing full well that sexual and reproductive health and rights information and services are our rights.
I also thank the Sauti ya Vijana project through Ilula Orphan Program for providing me with the platform to share my story and inspire my peers.
It is no longer a scar but rather a stepping stone.
