在线英语听力室

VOA慢速英语--肯尼亚学校帮助被迫离开课堂的青少年母亲

时间:2021-02-17 16:43:45

搜索关注在线英语听力室公众号:tingroom,领取免费英语资料大礼包。

(单词翻译)

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


分享到:


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 serene PD2zZ     
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 8dhzp     
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 81e12dac658cfd4c590486dd6f7523cf     
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 2fedeb45162c233ee9e28d81888a2d2c     
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 22f9946cd05973582e73e4e3c0239bb7     
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 duszmP     
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。

本文本内容来源于互联网抓取和网友提交,仅供参考,部分栏目没有内容,如果您有更合适的内容,欢迎 点击提交 分享给大家。