KEY POINTS:
Young mothers have put themselves in front of and behind the lens to show a picture they believe other people need to see - that they are normal.
These mothers are in their teens and still at school. And they struggle to be taken seriously, to be respected and to be good role models for their children.
Students at He Mataariki School for teen parents in Whangarei have turned the camera on to themselves to offer a snapshot of their lives in an exhibition called "The Real Story".
"Don't focus on our age because we're just like other mothers, living normal lives and trying to raise our kids the best way we can," they are saying through the photo exhibition which opened in Whangarei yesterday.
Many of the photos in "The Real Story" are picture-perfect glimpses of family life - laughing toddlers climbing into cardboard boxes, splashing at a beach, eyeing up birthday cake candles, looking happy and healthy and cute.
"A lot of people look down on us," Jessie Hancock said. "Some people think we must be different to other people, but we still want the same things and do the same things other families do, it's just a lot harder sometimes."
Asked what they learned about themselves through the Photovoice programme they took part in under the tutelage of Whangarei Heads photographer Ellie Smith, the teenage mothers give frank and insightful answers.
"The photos we took were aimed at portraying what we already knew about ourselves," Jessie Horgan said.
"The focus was on telling other people who might have a different idea of us that there's nothing different compared with other people who have families, except our age."
Ms Horgan's own poignant photos show the "progression of a decision" - snapshots of stages in a private journey from unplanned pregnancy to wanted baby.
Was it hard to put that personal story into the public arena?
"No," Ms Horgan said. "I knew what I wanted my photos to say. I want to tell people that I'm normal, but I had this really big decision to make."
Another photo board shows a mop-haired little boy bouncing upside down on his mother's knee. The series, also showing the child's father and uncle playing rugby, is titled "Fun and Games".
Lily Mokaraka said she wanted to show that family bonding and fun were important to her when bringing up her son. She did not have a great deal of freedom or fun when she was growing up, and family life centred on helping her own mother.
At 17 she was working three jobs and going to school. At 18 she was pregnant. Now she has returned to school.
"My son has helped me express myself and find the child that I feel I missed out on being. I hope these photos tell other people that.
"We're trying to get an education, bring up our children, we have to make ends meet, and we have to find the time to have fun as well."
All the photographs are accompanied by each woman's own text, and other writing, about being a young parent.
Photovoice was taken to the school in a joint programme by Manaia Primary Health Organisation and Te Ora Hou. The exhibition will run throughout Youth Week - this week - at the Old Library in Whangarei.
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