This archive report was first published on 9 May 2021.
Located in Gatarakwa, along the Nyeri-Nyahururu highway, Serene Haven Girls Secondary School is a unique boarding school that doubles as a rescue centre for expectant teenagers and teenage mothers.
Founded by Elizabeth Muriuki, a 32-year-old social worker, the centre provides a safe haven for 28 girls who live with their babies and attend classes.
According to Muriuki, the centre was established to help teenage mothers continue their education despite the burden of motherhood and stigma after being rejected by their families for getting pregnant.
‘I wanted to help the girls live their lives and continue their education despite the burden of motherhood and stigma after being rejected by their families for getting pregnant,’ Muriuki says.
Teenage pregnancies are a significant issue in Kenya, with over 170,000 cases recorded in 2020, according to the Kenya Health Information Management System.
The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey reveals that the most vulnerable group of girls are those aged between 15 and 19, and all 28 girls at Serene Haven fall under this category.
Muriuki, who was a teen mum herself, knew too well the struggles of juggling motherhood and schooling. She established the centre in January last year with two girls who needed a place to stay, away from the harshness of their families after they got pregnant.
The centre has a matron, two social workers, and a counsellor who provide additional coaching on motherhood and psychological support to the girls.
While most of the girls are in high school, four are still in primary school, and they attend a nearby primary school, leaving their children at the institution and coming back in the evening to breastfeed.
