ZEKE Fall 2019

Out of the Shadows
Shamed Teen Mothers in Rwanda
By Carol Allen-Storey
An epidemic of teen pregnancies is
permeating the population in Rwanda.
Vulnerable girls as young as 13
find themselves in this unwarranted
circumstance. Many as a result of
rape and others through ignorance of
engaging in sexual activities without protection,
nor any knowledge of the responsibility
of motherhood. The fathers run away. The
young mothers bring shame to the family, are
isolated and abandoned. These emotionally
damaged adolescents have assumed the awesome
responsibility of being mothers when
they are still children. The aim of this essay
is to give voice to these damaged girls and
attract wider support for them to live their lives
with dignity. Hope for Rwanda, a local charity,
is providing support through counselling,
legal aid and skills training.
“I was finishing my last year in school
and became pregnant. I was horrified,
I wanted to abort, as I would
be forced to leave school. My future
would be dim. After I could not raise
the fees for abortion, I felt my only
option was to commit suicide. My
friend told my mother of my situation
and she said; ‘Since I sinned once
by getting pregnant I should not sin
again’. After the baby was born I
initially felt a deep sense of loneliness,
but as I fell into my role I also learned
to be responsible and strong.”
Olive, 20. Daughter Giselle, 2.
Carol Allen-Storey, based in the UK, is an
award-winning photojournalist specializing in
chronicling complex humanitarian and social
issues. Her imagery illuminating people’s
dignity and quest for survival reflects the
unique trust and respect she engenders with
her subjects.
Storey’s work has been exhibited and
published extensively. Installations of her photography
appear in corporate headquarters
and commercial premises. In October 2009,
she was appointed a UNICEF ambassador for
photography. Her recent prize money for winning
gold in the Act of Kindness Award was
donated to a small AIDS charity in Uganda
because she believes it was morally responsible
to donate the money back to those most
in need.
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