By Anzoo Evaline.

At just 17 years old, Anzoa Gertrude has already experienced the kind of hardship that could easily silence a young girl’s dreams. Eight months ago, she became a mother, an event that turned her life upside down and left her facing rejection from her own husband and family.

Once a bright pupil with ambitions of becoming a nurse, Gertrude’s world crumbled when she discovered she was pregnant while still in school. “I was in primary six staying with my grandmother since I was 10yrs because my mother left us and went to Juba but when I got pregnant so I felt my future was lost because since I was born, I don’t know who my father is and my uncles have refused to help us with my grandmother,” she recalls softly. “When we were dating, my boyfriend said that he loves me so and one day I asked him to buy for a sanitary pad because my grandmother doesn’t have money and so he bought and later after my menstruation he invite me to his home where he asked me to help him because he has taken some man power and we had sex which resulted to the pregnant,” Anzoa narrated.   

For months, she struggled with her friend. “When I tried to follow my boyfriend, his friend told me that he has ran to Juba and I even don’t know where his family members are staying, this has left me stranded with my baby because my uncles have now chased me away from their home and Iam now staying with my friend’s home with her parent,” Gertrude said.

But a coalition of partners and stakeholders under the SHARE project, including school administrator and education advocates, saw hope where others had turned away. Through different intervention including counselling sessions, they convinced Gertrude’s mother to support her and her baby and support her return to school.

“It was not easy,” admits Adjumani town council community development officer Akum Sarah who worked closely with school administration. “There was a lot of anger and disappointment, but we explained that punishing the girl would only hurt the child and the community. Education is the key to breaking this cycle.”

With the intervention, Train a girl Uganda a CBO based in Adjumani district has constructed wash facility with changing room in the school where Anzoa is studying with sewing machine my making reuseable pads. “We have constructed one wash facility that has a changing room and rest room and we have also rehabilitated their water source that has been connected up to the wash facility,” said the Mondua Brenda Executive Director Train a girl.

She added that “We have also trained a person in tailoring who is making reuseable pads within the school because we have bought one sewing machine in the school and doing this, we are looking forward to retain more girls in class during their menstruation period and also to improve their performance in class,” Mondua added. 

Today, dressed in her crisp school uniform, Gertrude walks through the school gate with her books in hand and a quiet determination in her eyes. “I want to be a nurse so I can help other mothers,” she says. “This second chance means everything to me.”

The deputy headteacher of Oligo primary school Alia Vivian Vicky said that she has returned with renewed focus and maturity. “Gertrude’s story is a powerful reminder that motherhood should not be the end of education, she is an example to other girls that it is never too late to pursue your dreams,” said the Deputy headteacher.

Asibazoyo Nancy a representative working with FAWE a consortium partner implementing the share projected described the intervention of the various stakeholders as a way of securing a future that was lost. “I want to appreciate the partners and other stakeholders for making sure Gertrude is back to class because what they have done can not be judge by human but God knows and he will reward them in his own time and as for us FAWE, we shall also see how we shall support her through her new life journey,” said Nancy.

The district Education officer of Adjumani district Mr. Dima Robert said, “Under the share project, we have benefited a lot as a district and their intervention has made as to achieve a great improvement in reducing the rate of teenage pregnancy to 15.7% compared to the previous years,” The DEO commended.

As for Gertrude, every day back in class is a step toward the future she once feared was lost. “My baby gives me strength,” she says, smiling. “I want her to know that her mother never gave up.”