Girls women too early

Africa has the world’s highest rate of adolescent pregnancy, a factor that affects the health, education, and earning potential of millions of African girls. African teenage mothers face considerable threats to their health and wellbeing, primarily maternal morbidity and mortality. Girls who become pregnant have to leave school. This has long-term implications for them as individuals, their families and communities. The percentage of girls who gave birth before 16 is much higher amongst those who received no education. The lack of sex education and being unaware of the consequences of unprotected sex often lead to unwanted pregnancies. That’s why I travelled to Cameroon with the intent to document child marriage and early pregnancy for girls leaving in rural areas. Documenting the girl’s daily life, my aim was to tell the stories of girls becoming women too early in Africa. Many girls in the village drop out of school, having sexual relationships with young boys, and becoming pregnant before the age of 18. They start doing chores around the home and take responsibilities as adults. Girls become women too early, missing their childhood and adolescence. My intent of showing these young teenagers’ daily life is to create in the viewers a direct mental comparison between these girls and their possible daughters; between girls already living as adult women and the ones who may be are living as adolescents, going to school, having fun with their friends, and having dreams for their future.