It happened at the time I had just got into Grade 8 at a boarding school. I was 13 years old. My friends whom I had finished Grade 7 with were surprised that I was getting married instead of going to school.
How ChildFund intervened to save me from marriage
ChildFund intervened when teachers reported that I had not started Grade 8. There was a bridal shower and ChildFund showed up to it along with the police. They said a child should be in school, and they put a stop to the marriage. Then ChildFund helped me go back to school.
My mother and brothers were punished by the courts for trying to marry me off. At the court I was asked to choose the school where I wanted to go to, and after a week they said the case would be passed on to the Chieftainess (village leader). The Chieftainess helped me get into a boarding school.
Had it not been for ChildFund supporters, I would now be married
After finishing high school I studied catering – baking cakes and cooking meals. I hope to open my own restaurant soon. I want to open up a restaurant. After seeing what I have gone through, people in my community now see how education is good. Families have learnt that if their children get an education, they will benefit. They know that if their children are able to get a job their lives get better, so they encourage that children should not get married but remain in school.
Community leaders now use my story as an example. If I didn’t go back to school I would be suffering now.
Thank you to ChildFund for helping me get back to school and supporting me to complete the catering course. Had it not been for ChildFund supporters, I would continue to live in poverty.
How you can help end child marriage
Fear ends here. We’re taking a stand against child marriage and working to help every child have the childhood they need. You can help other young girls like Grace stay in school and achieve their dreams, by supporting our appeal to protect children from violence and exploitation.
Join us and help end child marriage by making a donation today, so that young girls everywhere can live free from exploitation.
