Founder of First Track Mentors Calls for Support for Vulnerable Mothers and Teenage Pregnancies Amid Mother's Day Celebrations

As women worldwide celebrate Mother’s Day, the founder of First Track Mentors, Valentine Simei, emphasizes the importance of recognizing all mothers, whether biological or those providing care to children they haven’t birthed.

Simei’s organization, First Track Mentors, focuses on mentoring and empowering vulnerable women, particularly teenage mothers and widows. Highlighting the challenges faced by young mothers, especially in North Rift Counties like Samburu, West Pokot, Uasin Gishu, and Nandi, Semei stresses the need for support and intervention.

Statistics reveal a troubling trend of teenage pregnancies, often attributed to inadequate parental guidance and unrestricted access to social media, leading children to interact with harmful influences. Additionally, economic hardships, such as the inability to afford sanitary pads, contribute to vulnerable situations, with some resorting to relationships with individuals like bodaboda operators for financial support.

Simei calls upon the government to take decisive action against those exploiting vulnerable children and urges for comprehensive support systems to be put in place. She emphasizes the importance of granting second chances to pregnant girls to continue their education, citing success stories of those who have returned to school and excelled in life.

Amid Mother’s Day celebrations, Simei urges women to appreciate themselves and their role in nurturing children, regardless of financial circumstances. She emphasizes that motherhood is not limited to a single day of celebration but requires continuous love and support.

As Mother’s Day coincides with Women’s Day, Simei calls for solidarity among women, reminding them of the resilience and strength required in the journey of motherhood. She encourages women to celebrate their worth and contributions, emphasizing the significant responsibility of caring for children and the importance of providing them with opportunities for a better future.