“I am so proud of you, my daughter! You are the only girl in secundary school in this whole community. You are a great inspiration for the other girls in your village. I know for sure that you will accomplish your dreams. Your are so strong.”
– Selvi (34), mother of Bhavani
“You are my loving and caring mother. I feel that you love me through the way you talk to me and take care for me when I am ill. You encourage me to change our situation. You are a great mom.”
– Bhavani (16), daugther of Selvi
Selvi and Bhavani live in the south of India and participate in the Community Development Program of Help a Child. Supported and empowered by this program, Bhavani is making history by attending secundary school as the very first girl in her community!
Carol had always looked forward to change the story of her family and build a secure future for her children. “We used to walk a long distance of over 10 kilometres to fetch water. My children could get too tired and they did not get enough time to study since they would return home late. Their security was also at risk. This inspired me to take necessary measures,” tells 43 years old Carol, mother of four from Mavindini (Kenya). Together with her husband she relied on casual work which earned them very little income.
Dear guest of honor, our fathers, our brothers, our uncles, our grandfathers and our mothers,
As young girls and women, we face many different challenges. We are vulnerable in all aspects and are treated as worthless. Today is the “end child marriage” campaign and the day for launching “BORUBORU” in Wau for the first time. This day exists because the world needs to pay attention to the injustices that prevent girls from reaching their potentials. While today we shout from the top of our lungs against child and forced marriage, we hope to be heard and not just heard but we hope to see action taken against child marriage.
So many girls do not get to have their voices heard. They suffer in silence as victims in their families and relationships. Today I am speaking for the girls who do not get to be here today because they are being held like hostages as wives.
Our culture allows and even encourages child and forced marriage. This practice has deep traditional connections, but things can change! We are girls of a new generation. The practise of early and forced marriage was created by people, and they can undo it. Each girl who is forced to marry is a victim. As victims our lives are miserable, we cry day in day out. We are being abused physically, emotionally and mentally. We are young. Not only young in age, but some of us are tiny, our bodies are too immature to carry another human being when we become pregnant against our wishes. Human beings are intelligent. We know the difference between right and wrong. We have the power to make changes and improvements. The evidence is clear that child marriage is harmful, not only to girls but to entire communities.
There should be nothing for us without us, and may you who hear us help us, may our grievances be heard and touch the souls of those with power and authority to help us. I call on each person in South Sudan and in Wau specifically to fight against child marriage and early pregnancies. Let us empower girls to live as children, not as wives.
Thanks,
Kelada James Saadalla
This powerful speech was held by Kelada James Saadalla at the launch of Boruboru games with the End Child Marriage campaign in Wau, South Sudan
November 20th, 2020
