| Note: TEMAK has supplied us with this information. We tried to keep it in their own words as much as possible with the exception of grammar and spelling errors and to put as many of their pictures as possible with the information. The pictures do not necessarily fit with the text. |
ASSOCIATION OF KENYA (TEMAK) |
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A PROGRAMME WORKING AGAINST TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND SUBSEQUENT REHABILITATION OF TEENAGE MOTHERS. |
 teen mothers and their children at the end of an HIV/AID workshop |
Girls who drop out of school due to pregnancy, social, cultural, economics, gender preference, lack of fees, ill health, lack of interest or failure to pay non tuition fees, etc. are victims of a disadvantaged society. Teenage Mothers prematurely lead adult lives. They are physically, emotionally, morally and intellectually damaged. 'They have lost the opportunity for an education that would open up a better future for them. |
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WHY IS TEMAK CONCERNED? No one really knows the number of teenage mothers in Kenya today, however, school dropout estimates suggest between 8,000 to 10,000 unmarried girls drop out of school every year due to pregnancy. High drop out rates are reported in the schools, and mixed boarding schools; 60% of the teenage mothers are unemployed and have no knowledge on child care. The pregnancy repercussions are dropping out of school, psychological stress rural urban migration, unemployment food problems, health problems due to physical immaturity vulnerability to poverty, prostitution and further consequences of contracting STD & AIDS, alienation by families and social stigmatization. Although teenage motherhood is longstanding problem, it has taken a dramatic and disturbing turn for the worse in the last 10 years. |
 community group counselling by a Temak trained widow  A typical teenage mother and child |
 informal education: classes for girls at the centre 
teenage mothers starting their own income generating activity project |
THE
HEALTH RISKS Teenage pregnancy itself is a health risk to the girl since her body is not yet prepared for motherhood. Early pregnancies have led to death of the victims. Many have tried abortion using crude methods and end up dead or with severe complications, some resulting in loss of fertility. Those who have ended up being molested by their male counterparts stand higher risk of contracting STD & AIDS. Their children have shown underweight and stunted growth; malnutrition is rampant in them due to inadequate information on breast-feeding and child nutrition, hence high infant mortality rates. The health of the Teenage mother is further at risk due to their involvement in the unregulated informal sector where they overwork in addition taking care of their children. Some of the above risks are permanent conditions, they limit the girls ability to survive and to be a healthy future mother. |
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TEMAK AND TEENAGE PREGNANCY Since its formation TEMAK has made Teenage Motherhood a special concern. One of the principal ways in which TEMAK has done this is through an integrated approach carefully designed by the TEMAKA centre. Training, rehabilitation & economic empowerment of teenage mothers is conducted and workshops are planned. Income generating activities are started for the Teenage Mothers, to try and uplift their living standard. In addition, TEMAK has embarked on a serious anti-pregnancy campaign both in schools and in the community through counselling and organised drama and poems etc. by Girls and Teenage mothers. Another way TEMAK addresses teenage pregnancy is through programmes and projects at community level. |
 another mother and children helped by TEMAK  Children enjoying a cup of porridge at the center |
THE CREATION OF TEMAK This emerged from between the coordination of TEMAK and Teenage Mother in two sub-locations of the Kisumu District in 1992. Consultation in a situational analysis of selected slum areas of Winam Division of Kisumu District and subsequent production of programme document. TEMAK today has an established staff lineup and effective interventions to tackle teenage pregnancy issues and teenage mothers predicaments. TEMAK's activities will mainly at the community level and national action programmes. STRATEGY AND GOALS At the heart of TEMAK are its action programmes, which are a demonstration of hope that teenage pregnancies can be effectively combated and that those already affected can be rehabilitated back into society. Its main goals are : 1) Education and information on reduction of teenage pregnancies and school drop-out rates. 2) Rehabilitation and economic empowerment of teenage mothers. 3) Orientation of health care towards the most prevalent health needs within the teenage mothers. TEMAK promotes a nationwide campaign against teenage pregnancies, mobilises public opinion to press for action against it and accommodates victims within the society through rehabilitation. TEMAK therefore works closely with other UN Agencies, NGO's and GOK departments to avoid duplication of efforts and to maximize the impact of all available resources against the problem. PLAN OF ACTION Immediate plan of action includes: 1. Mobilization and sensitization of community, teenage mothers and girls on teenage sexuality and other related issues through seminars, workshops and campaign meetings 2. Setting up of rehabilitation and training centre for teenage mothers and girls with proven poor backgrounds. 3. Mobilise health and nutrition awareness amongst teenage mothers both for their benefit and that of their children. 4. Increase religious morals amongst the teenage mothers and girls by exposing the girls through organised Bible counselling classes and visits by pastors, teachers, etc. 5. Rehabilitation & skill empowerment TEMAK has other pages at: (TEMAK 1) and (TEMAK 2) To request more detailed information e-mail us at: director@awomansvoice.org |
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