Young Mothers

Five young mothers —Jessica, Perla, Julie, Naïma, and Ariane— live with their children in a shelter for teenage mothers. There, they share a common space, united by life experiences marked by vulnerability, the absence of family support, and the early responsibility of motherhood. In this community environment, each one tries to find a balance between caring for their child and seeking their own identity, still in formation.

The center functions as a refuge and, at the same time, as a place of learning. Under the supervision of educators and social workers, the young women learn to coexist, to organize their daily lives, and to gradually take on the independence they will need once they leave the institution. Amidst diapers, classes, paperwork, and late-night conversations, friendship, solidarity, and also the tensions that accompany living together and different ways of facing difficulties emerge.

Jessica, Perla, Julie, Naïma, and Ariane represent different trajectories and backgrounds, but they share the same desire to build a more stable future for themselves and their children. Through their stories, the strength and fragility of adolescence faced with motherhood, the weight of social expectations, and the need to be heard and understood are revealed.

The portrait of these five young mothers offers a sensitive and realistic view of the transition to adulthood under adverse conditions, showing how mutual support and hope can pave the way to a better life.