TW: This story discusses teenage pregnancy, poverty, and social stigma, which some readers may find distressing.
Jacqueline grew up with a single mother who struggled to provide for the family. Now, at 17, she has become a single mother herself.
Throughout her childhood, 17-year-old Jacqueline witnessed how difficult life can be for a single mother in Rwanda. Her own mother, 40-year-old Francoise, has worked tirelessly to feed the family alone, without the support of the children’s fathers.
That’s why Jacqueline felt deeply distraught when she discovered she was pregnant.
“I felt very depressed and considered having an abortion,” she says.
With the support of her monther, Jacqueline decided not to have an abortion, which could have potentially led to a prison sentence of one to three years.
Jacqueline is the eldest of four children, and the family lives in a small, mud-clad house with no electricity or floorboards to insulate against the cold. They sleep on a mattress placed directly on the floor.
“I thought having another child would make our lives even harder. My mother was also expecting a child when I found out I was pregnant,” Jacqueline says quietly, sitting on the mattress while nursing her baby daughter.
Following the birth of her daughter at the local hospital, the household has now grown by two babies in just six months, and the struggle to survive has intensified.
“The hardest part is just surviving. I feel like we’re trapped in a vicious cycle,” Jacqueline says.
The father of Jacqueline’s child, an 18-year-old classmate, left when she told him about the pregnancy. Without support, she decided to leave secondary school during the later stages of pregnancy, too exhausted to continue. Now, she spends her days at home, caring for her baby and feeling increasingly isolated.
There is little support from the local community. Since becoming pregnant, Jacqueline has been bullied and shamed by neighbours who accuse her of selling her body and make derogatory comments about how the family’s life will become even harder.
The family relies solely on Francoise’s income. She works on other people’s farms, earning the equivalent of five kroner a day.
“Often, all we can afford to eat is porridge because we don’t have money for proper food. In the past, our situation was slightly better because there were no babies to care for, and I had more time to work,” Francoise explains.
Despite their struggles, she is determined that Jacqueline should continue her education.
“It’s better for her to go to school while I take care of the house and the children,” she says.
Teen mothers like Jacqueline are at greater risk of becoming trapped in poverty. Social norms mean they must often rely on men for financial support, but these relationships can be short-lived and leave them even more vulnerable.
Jacqueline dreams of resuming her education and breaking free from the difficult circumstances her family faces. Given their financial constraints, she knows that a long academic journey may not be possible, but she has a practical plan.
“It would be best if I get a technical education so I can start working quickly. I’d like to work in a hair salon. It’s not physically demanding, and I could even take clients here at home,” she says.
Her mother wholeheartedly supports her plan.
“It’s a good plan for her to get a technical education. I need her to contribute financially to the family because right now, I’m completely on my own with everything,” Francoise says.
From the mattress in the corner, the two babies, just 3 and 7 months old, let out soft cries. Francoise picks up her infant son, while Jacqueline lifts her daughter into her arms. As they gently cradle their children, the crying subsides, replaced by a quiet sense of comfort and love.
Though their journey is challenging, Jacqueline and Francoise remain determined to build a better future for their family, and SOS Children’s Villages is committed to helping them do so.