VOA慢速英语--肯尼亚学校帮助被迫离开课堂的青少年母亲

The Serene¹ Haven² private school in central Kenya is giving teenage mothers and pregnant girls a second chance to finish their education.

Many of the girls, between the ages of 13 and 19, were forced out of their local schools.

In a normal year, about 13,000 pregnant girls are forced to stop going to school, government research shows. That is likely to increase this year.

Aid groups say COVID-19 restrictions³ closed schools and led to an increase in teenage pregnancies⁴ and sexual abuse.

Seventeen-year-old Emily said she was assaulted by a man who had promised to teach her while classes were closed. She asked not to be identified by her full name to protect her privacy.

Emily is now six months pregnant. She said her mother would not let her go back to school. "She was worried ... they would be mean to me or tease me," she added.

Then Emily met Elizabeth Wanjiru Muriuki. The former social worker started Serene Haven, which provides child care and counseling services to the girls. Serene Haven opened in January when other Kenyan schools reopened.

The young mothers walk through the library and other school buildings with their babies in their arms. There is an assistant available when needed, and the girls can take breaks to feed their children between lessons.

"We only have three babies who are over one year old. The rest of the babies and the rest of the pregnancies all happened during the COVID time," said Muriuki.

Nineteen-year-old mother Josephine Wanjiru has been out of school for two years. Being at Serene Haven means she might reach her goal of becoming a nurse.

"I was very excited because I did not expect something like this," said Wanjiru.

Muriuki was a teenage mother herself and went on to finish school and build a career.

"There are some girls who come here and are really downcast, they feel like this is the end of the world," said Muriuki.

"I start with giving them my story ... they are really encouraged – like ‘Ah, if you can do it, we can also do it.'"

Words in This Story

assault – v. to violently attack someone or something

tease – v. to laugh at and criticize someone in a way that is either friendly and playful or cruel and unkind

counsel – v. to give advice to someone

library – n. a place where books, magazines, and other materials such as videos and musical recordings⁵ are available for people to use or borrow

encourage – v. to make someone more determined⁶, hopeful, or confident

downcast - adj. not happy, confident, or hopeful

1 serene   

adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的

参考例句：

• He has entered the serene autumn of his life.他已进入了美好的中年时期。
• He didn't speak much,he just smiled with that serene smile of his.他话不多，只是脸上露出他招牌式的淡定的微笑。

2 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

4 pregnancies   

怀孕，妊娠( pregnancy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Since the wartime population needed replenishment, pregnancies were a good sign. 最后一桩倒不失为好现象，战时人口正该补充。
• She's had three pregnancies in four years. 她在四年中怀孕叁次。

5 recordings   

n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片

参考例句：

• a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
• old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐

6 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。