At just 21 years old, Tsehay is already carrying responsibilities many young women her age are only beginning to imagine. She lives in a semi-urban community in Ethiopia, where city life blends into quiet residential neighborhoods. As a stay-at-home mother, her days revolve around caring for her child and managing the household while her husband works to support the family. Life is stable, but it is also repetitive, leaving little space for her own dreams.
For Tsehay, the challenges of being a young person today go beyond the rising cost of living and high rent. The heaviest burden is emotional. Watching her friends continue their education, socialize freely, and enjoy their youth has been painful. “It’s hard seeing your friends continue their school and continue being young,” she says. Becoming a mother early meant stepping into responsibility while her peers were still discovering themselves. Over time, this created feelings of isolation and the quiet fear of being left behind, as she tried to balance being a good parent with her own desire to grow.
The mental toll was significant. Tsehay often felt alone, carrying the weight of motherhood while longing for opportunities she thought were slipping away. But her journey began to change when she met a Tiko mobiliser working in her neighbourhood. Through this connection, she learned that she did not have to leave her health to chance.
With Tiko’s support, Tsehay began accessing family planning and counselling services. For the first time, she felt informed, supported, and in control of her reproductive health. She is now an active user of her choice of contraception, which has helped her make decisions that align with her current reality and future goals.
Beyond health services, Tiko has offered practical support that has made a real difference in her daily life. Free sanitary products have reduced household expenses, while Tiko Miles have eased some of the financial pressure she faced. These small but meaningful interventions have helped Tsehay feel supported not just medically, but holistically.
The biggest transformation for Tsehay has been regaining a sense of power. “It has helped me take control of my life without using up money that I do not even have,” she explains. By choosing to delay another pregnancy, she has been able to focus fully on caring for her first child and preparing for the next chapter of her life. What once felt like a period of uncertainty has become a time of planning and hope.
Taking charge of her health has also strengthened her family’s future. With more control over her time, energy, and wellbeing, Tsehay is now better positioned to support her household and make thoughtful decisions that benefit her child and her community.
Today, Tsehay is no longer focused only on surviving the present. She is looking ahead. Her dream is to gain professional skills in hair braiding and work in a beauty salon. Tiko’s support has given her the breathing room she needs to invest in herself and pursue this goal without the fear of an unplanned pregnancy holding her back.
She hopes that other young girls in her community can experience the same confidence and empowerment she now feels, having the information, support, and freedom to make choices before life forces them into responsibility.
Tsehay now understands that becoming a young mother did not end her personal journey. Instead, with the right support, it marked the beginning of a new and more empowered path. She is ready to move from being a stay-at-home mother to a skilled professional, proving that when girls are supported to take charge of their health, they can reclaim their future and shape it on their own terms.