The challenge

Child marriage (51% or 38 million of Bangladeshi women were married before they turned 18. 13 million were married before they turned 15) and lack of safety (94% of Bangladeshi women have experienced sexual harassment in public places, and risk sex trafficking and domestic violence) affect especially girls and women in Bangladesh. After child marriage, girls often drop out of school and become dependent on their husbands and in-law family. Lack of safety makes it hard for girls to attend meetings in the evenings. Sexual harassment in the streets prevent girls from going to school. All girls in Bangladesh are entitled to a government education stipend, but are not always given it.

As girls are expected to marry early, have children, take care of the household and their in-laws, many girls do not believe there are other options. From childhood they are trained for this role. Many girls are shy, have low self-esteem and are not aware of their value, competence or possibilities of higher education, getting own jobs and independence.

Our response

Saima heads the Women empowerment group. She used to think that the aim of life was to marry, have children and stay at home like a housewife, to clean and cook. All the women she knew had done this, so she assumed that was her life too. At 16, she refused to marry the man her parents had planned for her, because she wanted to continue her education.

Due to her commitment for education, and to not marry that young, Saima faced social control and violence from her family, and harassment from teachers to the extent that she became depressed, did not see any meaning in life and attempted to end it several times.

Saima has transformed her mentality, studies Bachelor of accounting and dreams to get a PhD in education or psychology in the future. She wants to get a job and become economically independent so she can take her own decisions about her life.

She is a role model for other girls and young women. She mentors them to see their value and how education can give them freedom. Saima is committed to stop child marriage, create equality and access for vulnerable girls to higher education, good health care and jobs. She mentors the girls to become independent, female role models and leaders.

Saima mentors Khushboo, Khadidja, Mahmoda, Shorna, Sumona, Nipa, Khushi and Hashi to become leaders. Together, they encourage EDS girls to get education, become empowered and conscious about their situation and possibilities so they take good decisions for their lives. They arrange sessions for girls on education, empowerment, physical and mental health, safety and to envision themselves as independent women who have higher education and jobs. They arrange parent meetings to raise awareness of the importance of education and to stop child marriage.

The EDS boys support the EDS girls to get education and participate actively in meetings by giving them the floor to speak and ensuring their safety in the streets.

Results

• Stopped … child marriages
• Prevented school dropouts
• Around 70% of the EDS students are girls
• Ensure safety in the streets so they girls can attend school, EDS and evening EDS meetings
• Girls have realized they have a choice, a voice and that their opinions matter. They take the floor in EDS meetings and participate actively.
• Girls have learned to set healthy boundaries and take care of their physical and mental health…girls have proceeded to higher education