The Girls Who Chose School Over Silence: The Fight Against Early Marriage
Deep in the sun-scorched plains of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, tradition still holds tight like an unyielding chain. For generations, the fate of many girls was decided long before they blossomed into womanhood. Marriage — often as young as 12 or 13 — was not just a possibility, but a certainty.
But in a quiet village just outside Aweil Town, a different story is beginning to unfold — thanks to the tireless efforts of ADAFIN’s community engagement programs.
Maria’s story is one that echoes the cries of many girls whose dreams were traded for dowry. At just 14, Maria was pulled out of school and married off to a man three times her age. The hopes she carried of becoming a teacher were dashed overnight, replaced by the burdens of a household and the bitter sting of abuse.
“I felt invisible,” Maria later shared during a support group session organized by ADAFIN. “No one asked me what I wanted. They only saw cows, not me.”
But change arrived, not in the form of rebellion, but through conversation and compassion. ADAFIN, working closely with village elders, religious leaders, and women’s groups, began dismantling the walls built by harmful traditions. Through open dialogues, radio programs, and local gatherings, the community started to see a new truth: a girl educated is a community uplifted.
Maria’s marriage was annulled through legal intervention facilitated by ADAFIN’s protection officers. It was not an easy process — resistance came from her family, neighbors, even the very institutions meant to protect her. But perseverance prevailed.
With counseling and a scholarship secured through ADAFIN’s child protection program, Maria returned to school. She walked back into the classroom with a head held high, her presence a symbol of defiance against a practice that had silenced so many before her.
“When I sit in class now, I don’t just learn for myself,” Maria says with a smile. “I learn for the girls who are still waiting to be saved.”
Today, Maria is not just a student; she’s an advocate. She visits nearby villages with ADAFIN teams, speaking to parents and girls about the value of education and the dangers of early marriage. Her voice carries the weight of experience, but also the promise of change.
And yet, for every Maria, there are still countless others at risk. The fight is far from over. Resources remain scarce, scholarship funds are limited, and societal resistance still simmers beneath the surface.
But there is hope — and that hope grows with every hand that joins this fight.
We need more supporters, more partners, more donors who believe that a girl’s place is in the classroom, not in a stranger’s home. We need corporates willing to channel their CSR funds into scholarships, education infrastructure, and empowerment programs. We need volunteers to lend their skills in mentorship, counseling, and advocacy.
If we act together, we can break the chains of tradition that have held our girls captive for generations. We can build a future where the story of Maria is not the exception — but the norm.
👉 Be part of the movement. Donate. Partner. Volunteer. Help us keep our girls in school where they belong.
