This project will provide the first health and empowerment workshops for pregnant adolescents at El Centro De Salud El Vallado in Colombia. The girls range from ages 12-17 and will be guided through a series of workshops sought to inform and inspire their path to motherhood and beyond. Held in partnership with the local medical center, informative health talks, mindfulness practices, and vocational education will be provided in order for our participants to feel empowered to take on the future.
According to a study led by the Universidad de los Andes in Bogota, 31% of pregnant adolescents were underweight compared to 14.5% of pregnant adult women, and out of the adolescents the prevalence of anemia was 44.7%. This study was conducted in Bogota, but this finding extends to a national issue of underweight adolescents in Colombia, particularly who come from low-income families or have been displaced by armed conflict. This project will affect 40 adolecents who suffer from malnutrition.
Chicos and Kids provides nutrition, natal care, mindfulness education as well as vocational training to pregnant adolecents at El Centro de Salud El Vallado. Mothers are also taught to be teachers themselves, whether through vocational skills or mindful practices, these skills empower women to look for a brighter future.
This project will empower and educate 40 pregnant adolescents to be well nourished and rise out of poverty to provide their children with a healthy and happy life.
