Ambe* (not her real name) is an 18-year-old mother from Muntinlupa City who is navigating one of life’s toughest journeys—raising a child while still growing up. Together with her 19-year-old husband, she is learning how to nurture their five-month-old baby boy, Ken* (not his real name) with little guidance and even less rest.
“Each day just felt the same,” Ambe shared. “What I do every day is just wake up in the morning, attend to my partner, and bathe the baby. That’s basically what my daily life revolves around.”
Ambe had never been actively involved in community activities until a barangay health worker in their area invited her to attend the SUNBRIGHT+ Project focused on the First 1,000 Days of Life. It includes Playdate+ sessions that support parents of children aged 0 to 3 through guided activities that build habits, knowledge, and skills for raising safe, healthy, and learning-ready children. Without hesitation, she accepted the invitation.
From that session came one of the most meaningful changes: learning to respond to her baby’s emotional needs. “As a first-time mom, I didn’t know what I was doing. I would panic when my baby cried. I was very anxious.”
She realized through the parenting sessions that her baby’s cries were not just noise, but signals of need and she began to truly listen. “I used to let him cry while I rushed to finish housework. But now I know he needs me more in those moments. When I stop and respond, he cries less. We’re more connected.”
She also became more confident in caring for her child. “Now I know what to do. It’s no longer as heavy and I can manage things better,” she said with a smile.
The session on self-care helped Ambe recognize signs of stress and how her mental health impacts her parenting. “They said that if we’re not okay mentally, we can reach out for help,” she said. Her sister, who attended the session with her, shared privately afterward that she, too, wasn’t feeling well mentally and wanted to reach out for support. For Ambe, this was an important realization: even within her own family, others were silently struggling.
Other lessons that she had were on regular breastfeeding, child nutrition, self-care, and the long-term benefits of responsive caregiving. At one point, Ambe had considered switching to formula milk. “But after the session, I realized how important breastfeeding is, so I continued. I also learned that I must take care of myself, mentally and physically, because my child depends on me,” she said.
As a young couple, disagreements with her husband were part of their reality. But Ambe began to see how these conflicts affect her ability to care for their baby. “When we argued, I’d feel drained. I couldn’t even think straight. But now, I remind myself to stay calm. I must be okay for my child,” she said.
Ambe felt seen knowing she wasn’t alone. “I thought I was the only one going through anxiety or confusion. But I met other moms who felt the same way. Sometimes, we just need someone to talk to.”
Today, Ambe is looking forward to attending the next Playdate+ sessions and has even encouraged other young mothers in her community to join. “Being a parent is not easy, but we are capable. Programs like SUNBRIGHT+ truly help — sometimes we think we already know enough just from hearing things at the health center, but we don’t. We still need guidance and support, especially when it comes to our health and our child’s health,” she said.
When asked about her hopes for her baby, Ambe said, “My only dream is for my child to be healthy, to grow up to be a good person, and to reach their dreams. Above all, I just want them to be safe.”
Save the Children supports young parents like Ambe by providing parenting sessions, mental health support, and life-saving information on child health and nutrition during the First 1,000 Days. By creating safe spaces for learning and connection, SUNBRIGHT+ helps ensure that children grow up safe, healthy, and ready to thrive — even in the most vulnerable communities.