22-Year-Old Zimbabwean Mother Returns to High School With Her Grade Two Daughter

Imilaminkosi Nkomo, a 22-year-old mother from Bulilima District in Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland South Province, has returned to high school after poverty forced her to drop out of school in 2016.

Despite becoming a mother at a young age and facing significant financial challenges, Nkomo has remained determined to complete her education. Today, she is a student at Gwambe Secondary School, where she has also been elected head girl.

Every morning, Nkomo prepares her Grade Two daughter for school at Kandana Primary School, the same school where she completed her primary education. After getting her daughter ready, she travels about six kilometers to Gwambe Secondary School for her own classes.

When she returns home, her responsibilities continue. She helps her daughter with homework, washes her school uniform and prepares for the following school day.

Poverty Forced Her to Leave School

Nkomo’s educational journey was interrupted in 2016 after she successfully completed her Grade Seven examinations.

However, her father was unemployed, and her family could not afford the fees needed for her to continue to secondary school. While her former classmates moved on with their education, Nkomo remained at home, helping with household responsibilities.

She later became pregnant in 2018, adding another challenge to an already difficult situation.

Determined to provide for herself and her child, Nkomo moved to Plumtree town, where she found work as a domestic worker. Although the job helped her earn a living, she never gave up on her dream of returning to school.

Opportunity to Return to School

Nkomo’s chance to resume her education came in 2022 when World Vision introduced its DREAMS program in her community to identify girls and young women who wanted to continue their education.

She left her domestic work and enrolled at Gwambe Secondary School in 2023, beginning Form One at the age of 19.

Returning to school was challenging. Some younger students mocked her because of her age and the fact that she was a mother. Some even suggested that she would become pregnant again and eventually drop out.

Instead of allowing the criticism to discourage her, Nkomo remained focused on her studies and drew motivation from the challenges she had already overcome.

Financial Challenges Continued

Unfortunately, the DREAMS program ended while Nkomo was in Form Two, leaving her uncertain about how she would continue paying her school fees.

A well-wisher living abroad later offered financial assistance to support her Form Three education. However, that support eventually ended.

The Campaign for Female Education (Camfed) subsequently stepped in to provide financial assistance, including covering the cost of her Ordinary Level examinations and helping her remain in school.

With the support, Nkomo has continued working toward completing her secondary education.

22-Year-Old Mother Dreams of Becoming a Doctor

Nkomo hopes to become a medical doctor in the future and believes her difficult journey will not prevent her from achieving her ambitions.

Her daughter also understands that her mother is a student. Nkomo explained that the young girl knows her mother goes to school just like other children.

The head of Gwambe Secondary School, Nhlanhla Dube, described Nkomo as a bright and determined student whose story could inspire other young mothers.

Dube expressed confidence that she would perform well in her final O-level examinations.

Nkomo Encourages Young Mothers to Return to School

Nkomo has encouraged girls and young women who become pregnant before completing their education not to give up on their dreams.

She believes young mothers can learn from their experiences, rebuild their lives and return to school when opportunities become available.

Her journey from dropping out of school because of poverty to becoming a high school head girl while raising a daughter highlights the challenges many young mothers face in pursuing education.

Nkomo’s story also shows how determination, financial support and education programs can help young mothers overcome difficult circumstances and continue working toward a better future.

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22-Year-Old Zimbabwean Mother Returns to High School With Her Grade Two Daughter
22-Year-Old Zimbabwean Mother Returns to High School With Her Grade Two Daughter
22-Year-Old Zimbabwean Mother Returns to High School With Her Grade Two Daughter
22-Year-Old Zimbabwean Mother Returns to High School With Her Grade Two Daughter
22-Year-Old Zimbabwean Mother Returns to High School With Her Grade Two Daughter
22-Year-Old Zimbabwean Mother Returns to High School With Her Grade Two Daughter
22-Year-Old Zimbabwean Mother Returns to High School With Her Grade Two Daughter
22-Year-Old Zimbabwean Mother Returns to High School With Her Grade Two Daughter