At Greenland Girls School in Kajiado County, Kenya, young mothers pursue their education with determination. In the classrooms, they fully engage in their studies while also fulfilling their roles as parents.
Among them is 19-year-old Valérie Wairimu, who doesn't enjoy breaks like the other students. During recess, she quickly grabs a snack before joining her son, Kayden Damien, whom she feeds between classes. She explains that after discovering her pregnancy, she didn't know where to turn until she learned about this school dedicated to teenage mothers.
With its 310 students and over 80 children, the school offers these young girls a second chance, free from stigma. According to its director, Paul Mukilya, many of them are rejected by their families and communities because of their early pregnancies, which makes their journey even more difficult.
In Kenya, access to education for adolescent mothers remains a major challenge, in a context of rapid growth in the youth population. In 2024, more than 125,000 births were to girls under the age of 19, according to national statistics.
According to Dr. Githinji Gitahi, Executive Director of Amref Health Africa, every girl who has interrupted her schooling due to pregnancy should be able to reintegrate into the education system. He emphasizes the importance of supporting these types of schools, which help reduce inequalities and complement existing public policies.
Founded in 2015, the Greenland Girls School has already helped hundreds of young women rebuild their lives and access careers, particularly in the civil service and the medical sector. Given this success, a second campus has been opened in Kilifi County, reinforcing a model poised for further growth.
