Sierra Leone has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the world made worse by the 66% rise in teenage pregnancy during the Ebola crisis. The need for a program that would deliver babies of such young mothers safely whilst providing health education, pre and post-natal care and a pathway back to school or a job was evident.

Our Dream Team project has to date supported 600 of these girls and their babies. We are expecting another surge in teenage pregnancies due to the COVID-19 crisis. The continuation of our services for this highly vulnerable group are critical. Many of these girls face social and economic problems and the Aberdeen Women’s Centre provides support to re-integrate them to their communities post birth.

On top of access to first-rate health care, these young women participate in a range of activities focused on social awareness, literacy and numeracy and health education, all taught by our on-site teaching staff.

Main goal: to transform their lives through education and empowerment at the most vulnerable moments in their lives, both economically and emotionally, through rebuilding their self-esteem and confidence.

A number also engage in a range of skills training including handicrafts, needlework, soap making, doormat design and production and cloth weaving.

We take a holistic approach to the wellbeing of our Dream Team transforming their health through access to safe birthing, whilst enabling continued education.  We empower these young women economically and emotionally, rebuilding their self-esteem and confidence at a time of great vulnerability.

The achievements we have made to improve the lives of our teenage mothers in 2018 is a direct result of the commitment of our dedicated donors, for which we are sincerely grateful.