Mother at 14...in a Refugee Camp

It is 9 o’clock in the morning. A tall, lean figure is making her way through the dusty wind in the Mental B refugee camp, in northern Burkina Faso. It’s 15-year-old Fadimata. She seems weary, tired, and stressed.

Fadimata was only 14 years old when she got married. The conflict in Timbuktu broke out just two months into her marriage, forcing her and husband Abdul to flee to neighboring Burkina Faso. For a year now, they have been living in exile in a Plan-funded refugee camp. It is in this strange place that Fadimata had her first experiences of married life and of motherhood.


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Adjoa: Life as a Vidomegon

A vidomegon is a child, often a girl, who is sent to live the life of a servant for a wealthier family. Very often, these children have no choice in the matter. Adjoa is a vidomegon, and this is her story...

My name’s Adjoa. When Plan’s envoy asked me to tell my story, I almost refused. I was afraid because usually, people don’t notice me. But he explained, so kindly, that my story could help many other girls without voices who had similar living conditions. That was when I agreed to talk about my life.

For a long time, I was clueless and sad. But now, I’m frightened. I’m afraid for my future and what will happen when the little being that will call me ‘mother’ arrives. I’m pregnant and this should be good news. I should be joyful with hope in my heart. Instead, I am afraid, because, after all, I’m only 14 years old. Oh, excuse me; I’m starting this story from the ending...

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