Chisomo Goliati, a 16-year-old girl from Naphimba village under Traditional Authority Njema, has a story of resilience and hope. After dropping out of school in 2020 due to an unexpected pregnancy, Chisomo's life took a challenging turn. However, with the intervention of a dedicated mother group from Maveya Primary School, supported by the Girls Get Equal (GGE) project, she found her way back to education and is now striving for a brighter future.
Chisomo's journey took a difficult path when she dropped out of school while in standard 6. She recalls,
"When I dropped out of school, I thought that the guy who impregnated me was going to assist me and even marry me. The outcome was not the same." The father of her child abandoned her, leaving Chisomo and her mother to shoulder the responsibilities alone. "I was left with my mother to take care of the baby, which was the most challenging part since my mother was not working at that moment," Chisomo explains.
Living with her unemployed mother, the future seemed bleak, and her dreams of education were put on hold.
The turning point came when the mother group from Maveya Primary School, trained in Psychosocial Support (PSS) by the Creative Centre for Community Mobilization (CRECCOM) under the GGE project funded by Norad through Plan International, stepped in. Chisomo narrates, "The mother group visited me together with my mother after noticing that I was not going to school. They provided us with psychosocial support."
The mother group encouraged Chisomo to return to school despite her young motherhood.
"I was encouraged to go back to school, bearing in mind that I was very young. They told me that I could go back to school regardless of having a child. The mother group suggested that the child could stay with my mother at home while I attended school. Both my mother and I agreed to the idea, and now I am back to school," Chisomo shares.
This support was crucial in reshaping her mindset and giving her the confidence to pursue her education again. The training provided to the mother group equipped them with the skills to address the psychological and emotional needs of students like Chisomo, who face significant life challenges. "Thanks to the psychosocial support training provided by CRECCOM under the GGE project, I am now swimming in a pool of my education journey for a better tomorrow," Chisomo reflects.
Returning to school was not without its challenges. Chisomo had to navigate the stigma and potential teasing from other students. However, the continuous support from her teachers and the mother group made a significant difference.
"The teachers provided me with psychosocial support and encouraged me to continue working hard in my classes despite any mockery or teasing from other students," Chisomo says.
This holistic approach to her reintegration into school life not only helped Chisomo academically but also emotionally and socially. She is now determined to achieve her dreams and has set her sights on a future in education. "When I grow up, I want to become a headteacher at Maveya Primary School," Chisomo declares with hope and determination.
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