At 17 years old, Elizabeth was already pregnant. Besides the stiffer law’s T/A Kachindamoto of Dedza had in places, the pressure of her friends to have a sexual relationship was overpowering. 

‘All my friends had boyfriends and were receiving lavish gift from them, at my age, I needed a boyfriend’. 

‘We started having unprotected sex and I realised I missed my period. I told my parents and I was discovered to be pregnant after some tests at the lab. My future was shattered. I did not know what to do. I couldn’t go to school with my condition. I regretted my decisions. My boyfriend moved away from our community and I never heard from him. I was left alone with my parents’.  Explained Eliza

Eliza stayed home until she gave birth. After her delivery, she apologized to her parents and asked them to pay her education. Now in form 3 at Golomoto community day secondary school, Elizabeth aspire to become a nurse. She says lack of information on sexuality and a lack of decision-making skills made her indulge in a sexual relationship and unprotected sex. She thanks UNWOMEN for the life skills program.  Eliza feels belonging to the safe space where their mentor tells them about sex and sexuality and other issues. Prior, she only had friends who never had accurate information. With a mentor, she feels more secure and they relate.