The NEST program provides education to expecting teenage mothers in Payatas, Philippines. It teaches them about their health and responsibilities as mothers. The program also informs teens about government services available to them for maternal health and nutrition. Currently 16 teenage girls ages 14-20 participate in the program. The goal is to give the mothers perspective on their future and support pursuing education or jobs to support their children. Poverty and lack of education are linked to the high teen pregnancy rate in Payatas, where 200 births were to adolescents in 2012 alone. The NEST program aims to curb the effects of poverty through education.

1. N
urturing Expecting Safe Teens (NEST)
is a pilot health and pregnancy course
started in September 2012 at the
HOPE Center in Payatas. NEST aims to educate
the adolescents on their bodies and health
responsibilities as future mothers. The program
advises the teens on the rights they hold to
government services including maternal health and
free vitamins. After each class HOPE invites the
teens to lunch and also provides them with milk
and vitamins, making sure the mothers receive
supplements they may not in their own homes.
In September of 2012, the first group
consisted of four teens while the 2013 group has
grown to sixteen attendees ranging in ages from 14-
20 years old. “Our goal,” says Carol Arcilla, Project
Manager of HOPE Center Payatas, “is to give these
expecting mothers a broader perspective on their
future. Perspective changes a lot throughout their
pregnancies as the majority realize the fathers of
their children are not as responsible as initially
thought”. Of the 2012 class, all four girls went back
to school after giving birth to pursue a job that
will allow them to support their babies, and of
those four only one teen remains with her partner.
Similar outcomes are predicted for the 2013 class as
well.
At twenty percent, the Philippines is
number one in Asia for teen pregnancy. In 2012 in
the Payatas region alone there were two hundred
births among adolescents. “It’s normal to be a
young mother in this community”, Arcilla states,
“lack of education and poverty go hand in hand”.
Poverty is a disease that can be cured by education,
which is what HOPE strives to accomplish through
programs such as the day cares and NEST.
Alma, an expecting mother, tells her story:
“My boyfriend first started courting me when I was
eleven and he was eighteen. He asked my aunt and
uncle for permission and they said we could see
each other under supervision. When I came back
to Payatas he pursued me, found me and asked my
mother’s permission to continue seeing me.
My mother asked if he was serious and he said he
was indeed. I didn’t like him much in the beginning
and made it difficult for him, but over time he won
my heart. In February of this year my mother let him
move in with us.
On June 7th, my 14th birthday, I discovered
I was pregnant. I didn’t know I could get pregnant
through sex. My mother never told me or anybody
else. Had I known how babies were made, I would
have waited until after I finished school to start a
family. High schools in the Philippines don’t let you
continue if you’re pregnant, so I have to wait until
next year to go back. But it’s ok. My boyfriend and
I are very happy to be having a baby. My mother is
also excited to have her first grandchild.
My boyfriend works in Pasig doing
construction and comes home on Saturdays but we
hope he can find work closer. I told him that I want
to go back to school after the baby is born to be a
teacher and he supports me. I feel lucky with this
because many of my cousin’s boyfriends don’t let
them.
Because my mother and boyfriend work,
we will send the baby to his family in the province,
about 5-6 hours drive away, while I finish school. I
don’t think I will miss my baby too much, but if I do
our other plan is to have my boyfriend’s sister come
live with us and take care of him or her during the
day.
I’m excited to start my own family. I love my
boyfriend very much and we will get married when I
turn eighteen.”
PREGNANCY IN POVERTY
By Alesi Enriquez, July 20th
2013