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Child marriage\u00a0is a\u00a0<\/span>global phenomenon\u00a0that leaves girls vulnerable to<\/span>\u00a0abuse and health problems, including potentially deadly pregnancy<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>complications. In 2014, Ethiopia committed to ending child marriage by 2025.<\/p>\nBut some districts of the country are on track to meet this goal even earlier.<\/p>\n
In Kolla Tembein District, an outreach program reached some 1,200 unmarried girls through school programmes like the girls\u2019 clubs. Community outreach efforts engaged another 1,200 girls who were already married. Thanks to such efforts, there have not been any cases of child marriage reported in those localities in the past last three years, and the dropout rate among female students has fallen to almost zero.<\/p>\n
The programme now is set to expand to the rest of the district.<\/p>\n
The community\u2019s women and girls are mobilizing to change things \u2013 and they are seeing enormous success.<\/p>\n
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Women take action<\/strong><\/p>\n The programme works with women\u2019s volunteer networks called Women\u2019s Development Groups. The volunteers received information about the consequences of child marriage, as well as related issues such as\u00a0gender equality, the importance of ending\u00a0female genital mutilation\u00a0(FGM), and the benefits of\u00a0maternal health\u00a0care.<\/p>\n \n Because girls who leave school are more likely to be married off, and because many child brides are forced to drop out, the Women\u2019s Development Groups also work closely with the local schools. If a girl drops out, the volunteers speak with her family to convince them of the importance of education over early marriage. If necessary, they refer cases of child marriage to local authorities.<\/p>\n Empowering girls<\/strong><\/p>\n In schools, girls\u2019 clubs are also helping to end child marriage. The clubs meet every two weeks with a specially trained mentor, who explains the harms of child marriage.<\/p>\n The girls also receive other information, including the basics of\u00a0sexual and reproductive health\u00a0and how to prevent sexually transmitted infections. They also gain life skills such as financial literacy skills.<\/p>\n The idea is to empower girls to not only reject child marriage but to minimize their vulnerability by improving their prospects for the future.<\/p>\n Merhawit Mezgebe, 18, is a 10th grader, and has been attending this programme for the past two years. Like other girls in the club, she has opened a savings account and is eager to plan for her future.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to use my savings to finance my college studies without bothering my parents,\u201d she said, smiling.<\/p>\n The girls are also helping to stamp out child marriage in their communities, she added.<\/p>\n When members of the club hear about possible child marriages taking place, they report it back to their mentor, who works with authorities to take action.<\/p>\n