My name is Lilian Akinyi Atieno, and I am 23 years old from Kobura. I am a proud member of the STADA Young Mothers Program, a space that transformed my pain into purpose.

I grew up as the third child in a family of ten. Life was not easy. After completing primary school, I joined secondary school with dreams of becoming an engineer. Mathematics and physics were my favorite subjects, and I truly believed education would change my life. However, poverty followed us closely. My father was the only breadwinner, and my mother, who is deaf, could not work. Even basic needs like sanitary towels were difficult to access.

At 21, the pressure to survive and live like my peers became overwhelming. I entered a relationship with an older man, hoping he would help me meet my basic needs. At first, he did. But after two months, I missed my period. When I took a pregnancy test and saw the positive result, fear and regret consumed me.

When I told him, he denied responsibility and questioned whether the pregnancy was his. I then told my parents, but instead of support, they asked me to find the man and make him take responsibility. I felt abandoned, judged, and deeply alone. Depression took over my life, and there were moments when I thought about ending my life or aborting the pregnancy.

In 2022, a friend told me about the STADA Young Mothers Group, and joining it became the turning point of my life. For the first time, I found a safe space—a place where my story was understood and my pain was not judged. I met other young mothers with different but familiar struggles, and I finally felt that I belonged.

Nine months later, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Sadly, just two weeks after her birth, I lost her. It was the most painful moment of my life. Through that deep grief, STADA stood with me. They offered counselling, comfort, and emotional support. I was no longer alone.

As part of my healing, I began volunteering at the STADA Community Library. Five months later, I was employed as a Young Mothers Coordinator, supporting young mothers across Kobura, Ogenya, and Nyabondo. That opportunity changed how I saw myself.

Today, I speak with confidence and pride. I am no longer the isolated and discouraged young mother I once was. I am an empowered woman, aware of my strength and my role in the community. My journey has taught me that early motherhood is not the end of life — it can be a new beginning.

With resilience, support, and solidarity, I now use my voice to inspire other young mothers to rise, heal, and believe in themselves.