Being a mom means different things in different places around the world. But while environment, food and dress might vary greatly, the one thing moms share is a love of their children, and the fierce drive to protect and provide for them. Here are snapshots of moms and their children from 10 different countries, each with their own unique stories.
1. Mexico
A mother and her child take a break from working on a sidewalk in Chiapas. Selling items on the street is common in this southern Mexican state, and working children reportedly account for a major portion of their family’s income. They sell everything from gum to cigarettes, sometimes saving some for themselves.
2. Japan
A mother ferries her two children on a bike – called a “mamachari,” literally “mom’s bike” – around city streets. According to a recent study, women are taking on record amounts of responsibility in the nation’s households, while men shoulder fewer hours of housework and child care than in any of the world’s richest nations.
3. Tanzania
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A mother waits as her child is examined by a worker in a medical clinic. Despite government health programs, such as routine immunization and prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission, preventable and treatable diseases such as malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea claim the lives of 270 children under the age of 5 in Tanzania every day. In some parts of the country, early marriage and childbearing contribute to the health challenges that parents face.
4. England
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A mom and her two children enjoy a day out in nature in the picturesque Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. A 2016 U.K. study found that more than one in nine children had not been to a park, forest or other natural environment in the previous year, leading the government to implement programs that would “encourage children to be close to nature, in and out of school, with particular focus on disadvantaged areas.”
5. India
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A mother and her son light a candle during Diwali, also known as “the festival of lights,” which marks the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and good over evil. In a move to shake up its notoriously rigorous educational system, the Delhi government recently introduced "happiness classes," where students are led in meditation and creative exercises.
6. Armenia
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Several generations of mothers and children walk on a street in the capital city of Yerevan. There is currently a movement by UNICEF to get the Armenian government to implement pre-primary education. Approximately 70% of pre-primary-age children – around 171,000 children – are not enrolled in an educational program.
7. Kenya
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A mother in Nairobi learns how to properly breastfeed her baby, with guidance from a nurse. The East African nation has made great strides in breastfeeding, with statistics showing that 61 percent of mothers fed their children breast milk exclusively for up to six months. This is up from 23 percent in 1989.
8. Afghanistan
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A worried mother cradles her child against the backdrop of war. According to the United Nations, 2018 was the deadliest year for children in Afghanistan in the past 10 years — more than 900 children lost their lives.
9. Canada
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A mother and child pose against the gorgeous scenery of Lake Louise, in the Canadian province of Alberta. New moms in Canada can take up to 63 weeks of leave from their jobs, depending on their work history.
10. The Philippines
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A young mother and her two children outside their home near Laguna de Bay. In a country where abortion is illegal, teen pregnancies have actually started a downtrend: Recent reports say that 9% of Filipino women aged 15 to 19 were having children, down from 10% in 2013, due to contraception being more widely available.
