At one of our project design sites, we met 16-year-old Ayisha (as I call her) and her 19-year-old husband. Our engagement with Ayisha broke the news of her pregnancy. I read very disturbing expressions on her face because she did not expect the news at all. That day, I promised her that I would never stop until this solution became a reality, so that girls like her are supported to plan their pregnancies rather than receiving it as ‘shocking’ news.
Obviously, the journey was not that simple, but I always remember her face and the promise I made to her, not verbally, but to myself, taking the Almighty as my witness, as the source of my courage to continue working for and with Ayisha.
Even after I left PSI and the program, witnessing the national scale-up of Smart Start and seeing the booklet in areas like Abala in the Afar region, about 1,000 km from Addis Ababa, is what makes me proud.
This is what I always want to tell Ayisha: “My dear Ayisha, you are my inspiration, my strength, and the courage behind my commitment to serve many more girls like you. If I can claim any success during this journey, a big chunk of the credit goes to you! I hope you grow, thrive, and build a resilient and happy home for your family.”
