Student by Day, Mother by Night

When most 12-year-old girls were preparing to sit the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) little Ashura Doe was getting ready to deliver her baby.

Molested by a family friend when she was only 11 years old, Ashura, now 14, shares how the Women’s Centre of Jamaica Foundation (WCJF) helped her to be a good parent and transition to high school.

“I went to the Women’s Centre after I had my baby. It was the only place I could be myself without thinking that anyone was judging me. The teachers were very loving and understanding; everyday they made sure to tell us that a first pregnancy is a mistake and we should not beat up ourselves over it [the pregnancy] but instead, focus on getting an education” she said.

With 18 sites across the island, the WCJF, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, provides adolescent mothers, 18 years and younger with an opportunity to continue their education during pregnancy. Through the WCJF, the young mothers are placed back into the secondary school system or at a vocational centre after the birth to their babies. The curriculum at the Foundation not only consist of academic subjects, but lifelong skills such as effective parenting, stress coping mechanics and time management. 

The WCJF past student credits the Foundation’s rounded curriculum for helping her to understand the challenges and responsibilities of an adolescent parent.

“Just before I was placed at high school, a nurse came to the Centre to talk about her experience as a teen mother. To this day, I can hear her voice in my head. She told us how her mother put her out of the house and that she had to take her baby to school with her. I cried listening to her story. And from that day, I told myself that if she can have a baby and become a nurse, I can do it too” she shared.

Ashura is in first form at a traditional high school and wants to become a Nurse as well as a Professional Athlete. She is a member of her school’s track team and shared that good time management and support from her mother have helped her, so far, to be a good student and an involved parent.

“Every morning before I go to school I have to bathe and feed my baby. My mother knows that I do tracks, so she gave me a certain time by which I have to get home. She makes sure that I do my homework and play with the baby. There are times I really want to sleep or do my own thing but she [Mommy] always ensures that I spend time with the baby.” 

Young Ashura said even though her mother does not blame her for her pregnancy, she cries when her she cannot provide for the family of three.

“There are times when my mother cannot give me lunch money and cannot buy diapers for the baby. Whenever this happens I really feel bad, I feel like I caused this [the pregnancy] on my mother.”

Ashura said while she is trying to live her life without regrets, she thinks it is her duty to tell young girls not to fall in the trap that she fell prey to.

“I feel it is my duty to tell young girls to be careful around some adults. If anyone touches you inappropriately, tell your mother, tell your sister, tell a friend, just tell somebody. It does not matter what they [the molester] say to you, just tell someone” she encouraged.

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NB: Name changed to protect the identity of the Adolescent Mother