Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Palabek (Agencia Fides) – Teenage pregnancies account for almost a fifth of all births that occur each year in Uganda and 32,000 cases monthly.
To help these young Ugandans, the Salesian missionaries have launched a program at the Don Bosco Palabek center based on the theme: "Rebuilding the lives of refugees". Uganda hosts approximately 2.5 million refugees, mostly from different African countries. The settlements are mainly made up of children and young people, who represent around 86% of the refugee population, while these have a significant number of single mothers.
During their pastoral work in the Palabek refugee camp, the Salesians have identified the difficulties faced by many adolescents who, due to abuse or lack of information, have assumed motherhood before reaching adulthood. “They are brave young women who have decided to have children and take care of them, despite the difficult circumstances that surround them,” says a note released by the missionaries.
“Almost all the teenage mothers in Palabek have fled the war,” explain the Salesians, stressing that these young women have not had opportunities to develop or strengthen their self-esteem. They also do not have the necessary knowledge to take care of their children or even themselves. “They need training and information, not only to be mothers, but also to rebuild their lives,” explain the Salesians.
The missionaries also highlight the psychological and social impact of this situation: “They do not have dreams or hopes appropriate to their age. Their priority is their children, which leads them to neglect themselves, generating serious consequences for both themselves and their children. However, we see that they have a great desire to learn and improve. They are willing to invest time in their education and long to build a future with their children.”
According to educational regulations in Uganda, pregnant or breastfeeding students are not allowed to attend school, which prevents many of them from completing their education. For many young mothers, stopping breastfeeding is not a viable option, as they have no alternatives to feed their babies. Faced with this reality, the Sons of Don Bosco propose the creation of safe spaces where children can be cared for while their mothers attend school.
This approach seeks to guarantee the educational continuity of young girls and provide the little ones with the food and care necessary for their development. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 28/11/2024)
