The power of parenting
Raising happy, healthy and hopeful children.
Becoming a single parent in Bolivia has meant a radical change in Sandra’s life.
A devastating earthquake in Türkiye changes everything for Sidra and her family.
A family in South Africa draws strength from the bond of being together.
Raising the next generation
Sandra, mother of Nathaly
In the northern outskirts of La Paz in Bolivia, many women face the challenge of raising children on their own in an environment marked by economic hardships and patriarchal traditions.
For Sandra, who studies law in the morning and designs shawls and dresses in the afternoon, balancing work and studies became even more challenging after the birth of her young daughter Nathaly, now 7 years old.
Becoming a single parent has meant a radical change in the life of Sandra.
But she’s supported by her mother Margarita and grandmother Rosa. Together with Sandra and Nathaly they represent four generations of Cholitas. This is the name given to Aymara indigenous women from the Bolivian Andean region who wear traditional blankets, high top hats, and long voluminous skirts called polleras.
“As a woman it's crucial to stand on your own two feet, to not rely entirely on others”
Sandra, mother of Nathaly
For Sandra, the act of juggling work, studies and motherhood is not easy. When faced with situations that affect her mental health she listens to music and enjoys weaving and creating macramé designs.
“Sometimes, like any mom, I retreat into myself for a while, maybe shed a few tears and then it passes, and I tell myself I have to start over and I do,” she says.
“The biggest challenge as a mother is to get ahead and prove to myself and my daughter that as a woman you can stand on your own two feet, not be behind someone else.”
When Nathaly was about two years old, a portrait of her was taken by photographer Sara Aliaga Ticona. The photo was seen internationally and inspired a graffiti drawing.
Sara says Nathaly's strength and tenderness embodies the essence of the Cholita.
Many families in Bolivia follow traditional gender roles, where fathers are the primary earners and mothers handle domestic affairs. However, these roles are changing as many Bolivian women seek independence and self-sufficiency.
“It’s essential to have the ability to work and to be self-sufficient. While I'm grateful for the immense support from my parents, my biggest challenge has been to ensure a bright future for my daughter.”
Sandra’s vision for Nathaly is clear. She wants her daughter to be deeply rooted in her heritage, while also ensuring she grows up with a sense of self-worth and purpose.
“I cherish every moment with my daughter, whether we’re painting or dancing," says Sandra. "I want to share every experience with her, always ensuring she feels supported and happy.”
For Sandra, every moment they spend together, whether it’s playing, dancing or simply being together is precious.
She hopes that these moments of togetherness, love and learning will remain etched in Nathaly’s memory forever, shaping her into the strong woman she’s destined to become.
Photography/video: Sara Aliaga Ticona
Rebuilding a family
When a devastating earthquake hit Türkiye on 6 February 2023, 10-year-old Sidra and her family's life was changed forever.
As Sidra navigates life after the disaster and the death of her father and sister, her grandfather Hassan has stepped in as a pillar of strength and support.
After the earthquake, it wasn’t just Sidra who relied on Hassan and his wife, Semiha, for support. In the garden of their damaged home in Antakya, Hatay, Türkiye, the couple provided shelter to relatives in makeshift tents, becoming a source of emotional strength for the extended family.
“Our grandchildren are our source of strength. When we’re alone we feel sad, but when they’re with us, they give us energy and strength, they calm us.”
Hassan, grandfather of Sidra
For 18 hours after the earthquake, Sidra and her mother, Sernaz, were trapped beneath the rubble.
Despite suffering a broken back, Sernaz comforted her daughter with songs and stories and tried to keep her warm.
“I thought that I was never going to see any of my family again, and that we were never going to make it out alive," she says.
When Sidra and her mother were finally rescued from the rubble, they received the news that Sidra’s father and elder sister, 17, had died in the earthquake. Their bodies were retrieved eight days later.
“I'm strong for Sidra, I try to stay strong for her. She's my rock, I am doing everything for her now. She’s the reason I hold myself together.”
Sernaz, mother of Sidra
While processing his own grief, Hassan stepped forward to provide emotional security and stability for his family.
“We are trying to do many things for all our grandchildren now after the earthquake, just to make them feel better,” he says. “We cry for our losses when we are on our own, but we hide our feelings in front of our grandchildren.”
“Since the children are traumatized, we are spoiling them a bit more,” says Sidra’s grandmother Semiha.
Hassan reflects on simpler times when children weren’t exposed to all the information available on modern technology. “We didn’t have the difficulties like today," he says.
"Kids are now very conscious about everything, and we have to reassure them and answer their questions.”
"I was burnt to ashes that day
I can't tell you what's going on inside me.
I feel so sad, I want to cry
I don't pass through the streets anymore
Because I feel so sad
Sometimes I get short of breath
I don't know, but I miss you so much."
Following the earthquake, Sidra turned to music and art for comfort.
On the advice of her psychiatrist, Sidra now attends guitar and drawing lessons. She attends therapy sessions once a week to help process the loss of her family members.
Poems, songs and drawings by Sidra reflect her emotions around the loss of her father and sister in the earthquake.
A song she wrote is called ‘My life is a painting’. The lyrics speak of her pain and healing: “My life is a painting, it’s endless to tell; jokes don’t last, tears don’t last.”
Following the earthquake, Sidra struggled to fall asleep, often needing her mother by her side.
She finds comfort now in a big red teddy bear named Alev that her mother gave her. Alev means ‘Flame’ in English.
Sidra loves playing with Mucize, a stray dog whose name means ‘Miracle’ in English.
Sidra’s connection with her cousins is testament to the therapeutic and healing power of play.
Amidst all the challenges, these moments of laughter and joy symbolize hope and resilience.
Despite the ongoing challenges of life and memories of the disaster, Hassan’s unwavering support and steadfast presence offer the family hope.
"We’re working for tomorrow, just trying to talk more to the grandkids all the time, and ask them what they want, and how they are feeling," he says.
“I tell them that everything will be better in the future."
Photography/video: Bradley Secker
A safe place
In the face of their own mental health challenges, Eleanor, a journalist, and Robin, a major crimes detective, always knew parenting wouldn't be easy.
Eleanor, diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, has been living with these conditions since childhood. Meanwhile, Robin experiences Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from his military service and years as a homicide detective.
Living in Kariega, Eastern Cape, in South Africa, their journey has included therapy for their own conditions and the loss of their first son to neonatal death. Aidan, 10, their bright and resilient young boy, has received therapy for his own anxiety and sensory challenges, showing remarkable progress along the way.
“Robin and I always said, even when Aidan was a baby... We’re meeting a person, not making a person," says Eleanor. "We are there to guide him.”
“While parenting is tough, it’s the most rewarding job on earth.”
Eleanor, mother of Aidan
Because Eleanor has personally experienced anxiety and depression for much of her life, she passionately advocates for reducing the stigma around mental health.
She recounts how Aidan refers to his therapist as his ’talking doctor’, highlighting the importance of open dialogue.
“I noticed the anxiety in Aidan very early on," she says. "So, I made it my mission to learn how to deal with it. We took him to therapy. I want to take away that stigma attached to mental health. The same way you get treated for diabetes; you have to be treated for mental illness. There is no shame in it.”
“Ever since I can remember Aidan’s always loved small spaces. He always climbs into boxes, climbs into cupboards, under chairs, under tables," says Eleanor.
"Initially we were nervous about it, but his therapist said it was just a comfort thing.”
Through therapeutic tools like weighted blankets and headphones, Aidan finds his way to calmness.
Their family values moments of togetherness, using creativity as a bonding tool. Baking, playing board games, crafting, and pursuing shared interests have become cherished activities in their household.
“Aidan has taken to baking and he even asked for a stand mixer for his last birthday, so we will spend time in the kitchen together,” says Eleanor.
“As a family we love spending time at home,” says Eleanor.
“I think it comes from our individual challenges with social anxiety. Home has become very much a place of comfort and is a safe space," she says.
"We’ve equipped our house with games and art supplies, turning it into a place we can disconnect from the world. Playing together as a family is essential because we spend most of our days apart, and there’s nothing like reconnecting."
“Often as adults, we get so trapped in doing things we have to do, and we forget to do things because we want to do them.”
Eleanor, mother of Aidan
The family sees home as a sanctuary free from societal pressures and Aidan's father Robin is determined to break the cycle of toxic masculinity by encouraging emotional expression.
“I grew up in a household where I was told that ‘big boys, or cowboys, don’t cry’,” he says.
“I don't want to raise my son with that mindset. He can express his emotions freely. We should stop stigmatizing mental health and victimizing people with mental health challenges. Taking mental health seriously can lead to a better world.”
Photography: Jodi Bieber
The power of parenting
Every child deserves to grow up in a loving, nurturing and safe environment.
But providing nurturing care takes time and resources – things that many parents and caregivers don’t have.
UNICEF believes every parent and caregiver should receive the support they need to give their children the best possible start in life. Caregivers who receive the support and skills to cope with stress and manage their mental health are also better able to care for their children. This is why UNICEF is calling for universal parenting support.
A strong parental attachment is the single biggest protective factor in the life of any child.
Evidence shows that family-friendly policies contribute to thriving children and happier families – as well as gender equality, workforce productivity and sustainable economic growth.
>> Learn more about UNICEF's work to support parents and caregivers.
>> Explore UNICEF Parenting: Helpful tips and guidance for parents and caregivers
