For several years, CIESPI has been working with the service organization, the Beneficent Association of Sao Martinho in Rio de Janeiro, to develop better strategies and policies for serving young women living on the streets, particularly pregnant women and young mothers. In March 2019, staff from the two organizations met to discuss the results of their joint field research called “I am pregnant: so now what? Voices of young people in situations of vulnerability”. Collecting material from a variety of sources, but especially from a group of pregnant women and young mothers aged 12-24 who either lived on the streets or in squats, the field researchers discovered a great deal about their individual profiles, where and how they lived and their daily circumstances.

Among the problems the young women faced several stood out: the young women’s low levels of schooling and the precariousness of any employment options; family conflicts and the isolation they felt during their pregnancies; the impact of drugs on their lives; and the pervasive impact of poverty. At the same time, it was possible to see the current and imagine future effective support networks that help the young women face their challenges and construct pathways to a better future. The two organizations are now embarked on the next phase of the project which we hope will result in the design and implementation of better ways to assist these young women.