A 15-year-old mother and her newborn baby in Sierra Leone will have better futures because of their time at the World Hope International Recovery Centre.

When Isata* was 13, her mother’s work as a trader often left Isata alone and hungry. Isata did chores for neighbors in exchange for food. The work exhausted Isata, and she missed a lot of school. Moving in with her grandmother in another village, Isata thought, would ease some of her struggles.

Instead, the move introduced lifelong challenges. Isata and her grandmother still had little food, but Isata worked hard to attend school. Then, a man offered to provide for Isata if she would become his girlfriend. Isata’s grandmother saw no other option. The man abused Isata, and she became pregnant at 15. But God had not forgotten Isata. A concerned woman reported Isata’s abuse and pregnancy, and Isata found protection, care and support at World Hope International’s (WHI’s) Recovery Centre.

With WHI and our medical partners’ support, Isata safely delivered her baby. They escaped becoming another statistic in Sierra Leone, where infant and maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the world.

Isata even returned to school with further WHI support. Today, Isata’s mother helps care for Isata’s baby while Isata pursues her education.

“We’re thankful that World Hope International helped our child continue her studies,” Isata’s family said. “She’s determined to complete her education.”

Isata’s story shows that hope and new beginnings are possible with God’s love and the support of caring people.

If you’d like to help more young girls like Isata, consider supporting World Hope International today.

*Isata is an alias used to protect the identity of an abuse survivor.