Teenage Mothers

• Photographer
  Christian Vium, Denmark
• Date of Photograph
  online
• Website
  http://www.christianvium.com

Teenage pregnancy is widespread in South Africa. In the 'coloured' township of Manenberg, girls see pregnancy as a way to gain adult status, and the monthly child support cheque is an important element in the household economies. Most teenage mothers live with the parents or grand parents due to the housing shortage in the area. In many cases, the fathers, often teenagers from the neighbourhood, cannot live up to their responsabilities, and the girls are left alone with the children, who grow up without male role models.

Numerous assignments as anthropological researcher, photographer and assistant on documentary projects in countries like : Afghanistan (2003, 2004), Australia (1999, 2000 & 2001), Brazil (2005), Burma/Myanmar (2005-2006), China (2006, 2008), Kosovo/a (2006), Mali (2000, 2006), Mauritania (2001, 2004, 2006), Senegal (2001, 2006), South Africa (2006, 2007 & 2008) as well as throughout Europe.