Protecting Her Future

In a quaint village in Bangladesh, where early marriages often dictate the lives of young girls, Mosammat, a tenth-grader at Lalchad High School, stood at a crossroads. Tradition beckoned her towards a prearranged marriage, a decision her family deemed honourable.

Yet, Mosammat harboured dreams beyond her village norms. Equipped with insights from The Hunger Project’s (THP) Her Choice program, she recognised the pressing dangers of child marriages.

Together with 27 partner organisations across ten countries in Africa and Asia, the Her Choice alliance is working to combat child marriages and enable girls to re-enrol in school. Through delivering educational workshops that target young women like Mosammat, THP empowers girls so that they can finish their education and transform their situations for themselves and their children.

Newly inspired to dream big, Mosammat began advocating for her future. Conversations with her father and uncles bore no fruit, but undeterred, she turned to the women in her family. With conviction, she relayed the perils of early marriage she’d learned. She emphasised that marriage, beyond just pride, had ramifications that could forever alter lives.

Her words resonated. The wedding was called off.

Today, Mosammat is not only a symbol of resistance but also of hope. She continues her education, eyes set on a brighter, empowered future. “The Hunger Project taught me the significance of choices,” she reflects. While she once stood on the brink of a life decided for her, she now dreams of becoming a teacher. For Mosammat, life isn’t just about existing; it’s about thriving with purpose.