The most vulnerable adolescent girls in Niger protected from early pregnancies through a girl centered program Child on the back, Hassia, a slim girl of 19 years old, is concentrated on her slate. She is learning to write in zarma, the language spoken in the western part of Niger. Around her, 20 adolescent girls aged from 15 to 19. Most of them are wearing blue sky hijabs, the colour in fashion now. Some of them are married or engaged. In Niger, more than 2 girls out of 3 are married before 18 and more than one out of 3 before 15. Hassia Idi is one of the 64,000 adolescent girls registered this year in the girl-centered Illimin Program (“knowledge for dignity” in haussa). Since March, she is attending the Safe Space of Niamey airport suburb. She is learning how to get by in life, take care of herself and manage money. Emphasis is placed on reproductive health. In the course of 24 training modules, she will learn self-esteem, good social behavior, puberty, adolescent nutrition, family planning, hygiene, conflict resolution, the good use of credit and money safety. All modules are delivered by mentors: educated women living in the community. During six months, every Safe Space welcomes 4 groups of 25 girls, aged 10 to 14 and 15 to 19. Literacy teaching, arithmetic, introductory courses to income generating activities (sewing, embroidery, pearls, handicraft) complete the schedule of this extraordinary school. «Illimin is focused on the 10-19 adolescent girls, because they contribute to 14% of the fertility rate and 30% of the maternal mortality rate in Niger », says Hassan Ali, UNFPA Representative Assistant in Niger. @unfpa #postthepeople #ourplanetdaily #lifeofadventure #photojournalism #documentaryphotography #environmentalportrait #photodocumentary #onassignment #everyday #everydayafrica #wildernessculture #africa #liveauthentic #picoftheday #documentary #leica #water #Lr_Gather #canon #niger #unfpa