"I felt like my life ended the moment I got pregnant," she recalls of the time when she was 17. "I couldn't even speak in front of other women."

Saraphina, now 24, was one of many adolescent girls in Tanzania who face the harsh reality of early pregnancy, a situation that often strips young girls of their agency, education, and future opportunities.

At the time of her pregnancy, Saraphina was just one week away from registering for her national secondary school exams. Although the school administration wanted to support her to continue, the school board disagreed. She was expelled.

Turning point through CWC

But Saraphina’s story took a remarkable turn when, at the age of 20, she joined the Children With Children Project (CWC), an initiative led by SOS Children’s Villages Tanzania in the Iringa region.

Through the programme, she received training in positive parenting, entrepreneurship, and reproductive health, empowering her with both new skills and confidence. She started a small restaurant after receiving the entrepreneurship and financial literacy training.

Her hard work and perseverance paid off. She later expanded and now owns two clothing shops in addition to the restaurant.

"Now I have my own businesses, I can speak freely, and I even advise other girls in my community about chasing their dreams," she says, her voice edged with pride.

High rates of teen pregnancy

The CWC project was launched in response to the high rates of adolescent pregnancy and school dropouts, says Victor Mwaipungu, the Project Manager at SOS Children’s Villages in Tanzania.

In Tanzania, 22% of women aged 15-19 have been pregnant, according to a 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey. Local data from social welfare offices, police gender desks, and health facilities show that over 200 schoolgirls drop out of school due to pregnancy annually.

“We work with some of the most vulnerable girls — many of them out of school, stigmatized, and economically marginalized,” Victor explains.

Since its launch in 2021, the Children With Children (CWC) project has reached over 20,000 adolescent girls and boys — both in and out of school — and provided direct support to more than 700 adolescent mothers.

Expanding the impact: A new phase of support

Now a new initiative — Empowering Adolescents with Sexual and Reproductive Health and a Sustainable Livelihood — builds on the success of the CWC. Launched in Iringa, this three-year programme aims to reach young mothers in vulnerable circumstances, as well as adolescent girls and boys, equipping them with tools for a healthier, more sustainable future.

The new initiative has three core objectives:

• To increase access to and use of sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) information and services among adolescents;
• To strengthen the capacity of local authorities and service providers to deliver inclusive SRHR education and prevent gender-based violence;
• To enhance the livelihoods of adolescent mothers, helping reduce their vulnerability and enabling them to exercise their rights.

The SOS Children's Villages programmes play a vital role in preventing family breakdown by equipping adolescents and caregivers with essential life skills. Young people learn about family planning, gender equality, and economic empowerment, while parents receive training in positive parenting and building stable home environments. This dual approach helps reduce unintended pregnancies, promote healthier families, and break intergenerational cycles of poverty and neglect.

Engaging boys and men as allies

A key component of the initiative is the “male involvement campaign,” which actively engages boys and men as partners in promoting gender equality and preventing violence. As part of this effort, around 70 male champions and peer educators have been trained to serve as agents of change within their communities.

“Many forms of violence are perpetrated by men,” says Victor. “We believe it’s impossible to reduce gender-based violence without engaging men and boys as partners in this work.” Birth control and family planning are also integral parts of the sexual and reproductive health education offered to both adolescents and adults.

A voice for change

Today, Saraphina has not only rebuilt her life but is also inspiring others.

She works as a peer educator in her community, helping other adolescent girls avoid the same challenges she faced. She shares life skills education and behavioral guidance to equip her peers with the confidence and knowledge to protect themselves from abuse and early pregnancy.

Her mother, Elizabeth, who once struggled to cope with her daughter’s pregnancy, is now one of her biggest supporters.

“I opted to be there for her, support and encourage her. When the village chairperson told us about the (CWC) project, I encouraged her to register. Today I am proud of her. the family is proud of her,” her mother says.

Saraphina's journey from voicelessness to leadership stands as a powerful example of what’s possible when young people are given the chance — and the support — to rewrite their stories.