Aishleen (18): “I found my community at ADRA Aruba”
ARUBA – By participating in "From Teenage Parent to Lifecoach," Aishleen (18) and Shadienne (18) connected with others facing the same challenges as they did. With this project, ADRA Aruba is committed to supporting teenage mothers on the island. The social organization is one of the participants in "Strengthening Families Together," a program through which the Oranje Fonds and Kinderpostzegels (Children's Stamps) give local organizations the opportunity to increase their positive impact on vulnerable families.
Teenage mothers often experience emotional, financial, and social challenges. Through individual job coaching and group workshops, ADRA Aruba focuses on developing their personal and professional skills, helping them become more self-reliant. "Before I joined the workshops, I felt like I'd lost all my friends," says Aishleen. "Now I've found my community." Not only do the participants meet new people, but their children also play with the children of other mothers. This way, within the "From Teenage Parent to Lifecoach" project, they build a strong social network for themselves and their families.
Social network
In addition, it gives ADRA focuses on mediation between teenage mothers and their parents, and between teenage mothers and their partners. ADRA chair Calix Ashby and project leader Mirugia Leocadia emphasize the importance of the teenage mothers' social networks: "Many mothers of teenage mothers were once teenage mothers themselves. By supporting participants in finding work, we break that pattern." The children's fathers are often involved in the project as well: "We encourage that. We teach teenage mothers the importance of a child growing up in a family."
Cooperation
The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations is co-funding the program in its first year. Therefore, Vincent Storimans and Matthijs Beusekom, representing the Representation of the Netherlands in Aruba (VNO), were guests on a working visit to ADRA Aruba. Vincent: "ADRA makes a valuable contribution by breaking the vicious cycle that often comes with teenage motherhood. Through the project, the participants learn essential life skills, making it much easier to participate in Aruban society." Vincent asked the two former participants: "What do you enjoy doing?" It turns out that Shadienne and Aishleen both enjoy baking delicious pastries in the kitchen; a skill they learned during the project that will prove useful when they find a job.
Impact
Every year, 30 teenage mothers participate in the life coaching program, 10 of whom move on to a work-study program that guides them toward paid employment or training. By increasing these mothers' financial independence and self-reliance, they can build a stable future for themselves and their families.
Strengthening Families Together
Through the three-year "Strengthening Families Together" program, Kinderpostzegels (Children's Stamps) and Oranje Fonds (Orange Fund) support fourteen social organizations in Aruba, Curaçao, Saba, and Sint Maarten. These organizations promote equal opportunities for children and young people, support parents in vulnerable situations, and/or address poverty issues. By supporting them with knowledge, funding, and a network, these organizations are given the opportunity to increase their positive impact on vulnerable families. In addition, the program, in collaboration with local partners, contributes to strengthening the infrastructure for capacity development.