Thilaka is 16, and has a young baby. She had to leave school as soon as her pregnancy became known, because in Sri Lanka schooling is denied to pregnant girls. She lives with her mother who is supportive, but has to work long hours to support the family. The baby’s father is very much part of their lives. The baby was severely underweight at birth, and an Asha community worker realised that Thilaka herself was not eating adequately.

Thilaka was one of around a dozen teenage mothers in that community at that time. Asha Trust was able to support local workers to set up a Young Mother’s Project to enable these young women to support each other. The project provides nutritional supplements for both mother and baby and runs sessions on weaning, child development and health information. The workers are highly conscious that without support, there is every chance that both these young women and their babies will face grinding poverty and increasing health and social difficulties. The workers are helping the young women develop skills like sewing to help them become economically independent.