At COWLHA, we believe that every individual, regardless of their health status, deserves access to comprehensive care, support, and the opportunity to thrive. Over the past three years, we embarked on a transformative mission to uplift and empower adolescent mothers living with HIV, ensuring they have access to the health services and support they deserve. Through the “𝑨𝒅𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑴𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑯𝑰𝑽 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉” project, supported by VIIV Healthcare and MANERELA+, we’ve been working in the districts of Dedza and Phalombe to empower, break barriers and create brighter futures for these young people.
𝐀 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞
When we launched this project, we knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy. The three-year project, which began in 2021, was designed to address the unique challenges faced by adolescent mothers and their children aged 10-24 years. These adolescent mothers, often overlooked by society, face immense challenges. From stigma and discrimination to limited access to sexual reproductive health (SRH) services, their journey is one of resilience and determination. By 2024, we set out to ensure these young women had access to life-changing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and comprehensive knowledge on HIV. And we’re proud to say that over the course of the project, we reached 𝟕,𝟐𝟏𝟖 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬 with vital HIV and SRHR information and support services.
𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐥
𝟏. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐞𝐞𝐫-𝐓𝐨-𝐏𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
Imagine being a young mother, living with HIV, uncertain of the future. Now, imagine having someone by your side—someone who understands your journey, who can guide and support you. This is what our peer mentorship program has done for 30 adolescent mothers and fathers. These young leaders have become beacons of hope in their communities. Their training in treatment literacy, family planning, and gender-based violence (GBV) has sparked a 30% rise in adolescents seeking family planning services. More than that, they’ve managed to help link 𝟖𝟗𝟖 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞-𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐈𝐕 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 and ensuring 𝟏,𝟎𝟗𝟗 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞.
𝟐. 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬
There’s something profound about having a space where you feel safe, a place where you can share your experiences, ask questions, and find support without fear of judgement. This is exactly what our safe hubs have provided. These hubs, supported by health care workers providing SRH services, have increased family planning uptake and created lasting community connections. Despite the devastation of Cyclone Freddy, which affected so many of the young mothers we work with, community leaders have stepped up. They’ve donated land, firewood and brick ovens ensuring that the construction of new HIV support group hubs continue. A testament to the strength of the human spirit and the importance of local ownership and sustainability.
𝘕𝘈𝘔𝘉𝘈𝘡𝘖 𝘈𝘕𝘋 𝘒𝘈𝘓𝘐𝘕𝘋𝘌 𝘏𝘜𝘉𝘚 𝘊𝘖𝘕𝘚𝘛𝘙𝘜𝘊𝘛𝘐𝘖𝘕 𝘜𝘕𝘋𝘌𝘙 𝘞𝘈𝘠
𝟑. 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝
Through the creation of Village Savings and Loan (VSL) groups, 60 adolescent mothers have learned the power of saving and investing. While the floods caused by Cyclone Freddy set back some of these efforts, the project planted seeds of resilience. Empowering these young women to rebuild, to rise, and to continue striving for a better tomorrow. Additionally, 20 pigs were distributed to 120 adolescent girls and young mothers, with the goal of promoting income generation through livestock farming. This pass-on initiative offers vital sustenance and economic benefits, empowering these young women to support themselves and their families.
𝟒. 𝐍𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐁𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐥
We understand that health is holistic. It’s not just about treatment—it’s about nutrition, mental well-being, and creating a nurturing environment for both mothers and their children. Through our training programs, 50 adolescent parents have gained vital knowledge on food security and nutrition, allowing them to prepare healthier meals for themselves and their children, and thus supporting the effectiveness of HIV treatment. It’s a small shift, but one that has made a world of difference in their daily lives.
𝟓. 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬
There’s no easy way to change harmful cultural practices, but with support and determination, we’re doing it. Through our community awareness campaigns, we’ve tackled practices that put young girls at risk. Practices such as “Kugula Ufa,” where stepfathers exploited adolescent girls, are now being actively challenged by community and traditional leaders, creating safer environments for adolescent mothers and their children.
𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬, 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞
This journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Cyclone Freddy was a devastating blow, affecting everything from the construction of hubs to the financial progress of our VSL groups. But in the face of adversity, these young mothers have shown incredible resilience. With the support of their communities and the determination of COWLHA’s team, they’ve continued to push forward.
We’ve also learned that real change requires partnership. It requires the commitment of traditional leaders, religious leaders, healthcare providers, and every individual in the community. Together, we’ve built something that will last far beyond the scope of this project.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭?
As we look to the future, one thing is clear: the work is far from over. This is just the beginning. We’ve seen firsthand the impact that this project has had, but there is still so much more to be done. We dream of reaching even more adolescent mothers and their children, ensuring that no one is left behind. With continued support, we can extend our reach, build more safe spaces, and offer more young mothers the chance to thrive.
At COWLHA, we remain committed to our mission: empowering women and girls, especially those living with HIV, to take control of their health, their futures, and their lives. Together, with your support and the strength of our communities, we’ll keep pushing forward.