Teenage pregnancies & gender based violence
Every day in Peru, 11 girls aged 10 to 14
become pregnant, as a result of sexual violence.
Desarrollo Integral del Adolescente (Dia), translated as ‘Adolescent Development’, is Solid’s social organization in Ayacucho, Peru, which specifically addresses the issues of teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence against young girls. The risk of girls and their children, ending up on the streets with no education, poor parenting skills and no hope of a future, is a problem we, at Solid, are determined to help tackle.
Coaching
In Ayacucho, 17% of girls aged 15 to 19 are pregnant or already mothers, most living in poverty and facing violence, neglect, and lack of education. Their young age and harsh conditions limit their emotional and parenting skills.
The EMMA project supports these young mothers—ages 12 to 18 with children under 3—through home visits and workshops led by midwives and social workers. Each year, it helps 100 girls strengthen their parenting, emotional well-being, and self-esteem, aiming to reconnect them with health, education, legal protection, and support services, and to break the cycle of poverty and violence.
Education
Many of the teenage girls drop out of school when they become pregnant, due to financial restrictions, discrimination, or disapproval from their partner or family.
We strongly believe in the power of re-integrating these girls into the educational system, contributing to their personal development and a way to escape a poor future. A tutor at Solid accompanies the girls in their enrolment, connects them with available grants, continuously motivates them and monitors their educational progress, until they finish high school.
Shelter
The residential care center (CAR), run in partnership with the Peruvian government’s program INABIF, supports 18 teenage mothers aged 12 to 18 and their children. All residents are victims of sexual and/or family violence and are referred by the child protection unit or the courts.
The center offers a safe and stable environment where healing and growth are possible. A multidisciplinary team of health workers, teachers, social workers, and psychologists provides comprehensive support. The aim is to reintegrate the girls into a safe family environment when feasible, or prepare them for independent living if necessary.
Prevention
Our teenage pregnancy prevention program in Ayacucho, Peru, aims to reduce the growing number of cases by improving young people’s access to healthcare and contraception. While many teens have some knowledge of contraceptive methods, their use remains limited due to machismo, stigma, misinformation, and discrimination.
To address this, we work directly with young people in high schools, delivering sex education classes alongside art-based activities that strengthen self-esteem and decision-making. We also collaborate with health providers to ensure services are youth-friendly and accessible.
In parallel, we run an open house where teens can drop in freely, talk openly about these topics, and access contraception immediately, helping ensure these health services truly meet the needs of young people.
teenage mothers have
been accompanied since 2010
of teenage mothers in coaching
don't abandon their studies
of teenage mothers in coaching
prevent a second pregnancy
Our impact
Explore our impact report to learn more about our work guiding teenage mothers, preventing teenage pregnancies, and our shelter home in the fight against gender-based violence. Discover what drives our team, the stories and numbers.
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