First International Day Of The Girl

I was recently contacted by World Vision to help with the first international day of the girl.It’s astonishing to read the statistics on how many girls are forced into child marriages before they are 18.It’s estimated that 24,000 girls  a day will be forced to marry against their will.At current rates, 100 million girls will marry as children in the next decade.I don’t want this to happen, I don’t want all those girls hopes and dreams go to waste.

The UN’s first international day of the girl is a chance for us to come together and unite against the trade in child marriage.

We must speak up for those girls who have dreams of education, full of potential and give them the life that they deserve.I couldn’t imagine what it must be like to have been married as a pre-teen, doomed to a life endless children and living in poverty and discrimination.

This Amira who was told at 10 years old that she would have to leave school and marry a boy who she had never met.

“My mother told me that she was to marry me off. I couldn’t believe my ears. I burst into loud cry and my eyes were filled with tears. I begged her kneeling down to cancel the marriage, but she said no.”

But she was a lucky one.

Amira’s teacher, Dejiytinu, is the head of the early marriage club of the school and head for the village women affairs where Amirs lives. Through the training received from World Vision she was able to help her.You can read of Amira’s story on the World Vision website.

Every girl should have the right to an education, for a life they want.

How to get involved  for  the first international day of the girl

Join us in taking a stand against child marriage by blogging, tweeting or sharing a link on Facebook using the stories provided. As we fight for global action to tackle this issue your voice strengthens these efforts, amplifying our call to your readers, your friends and your community.

If you’re a blogger:
Write about child marriage on your blog in honour of #dayofthegirl, asking your readers to add their voice or sponsor a girl to help put an end to child marriage.Add your post to the linky .

Tweet us at @WorldVisionPR or @KaylaERobertson to let us know.

On Twitter:

Follow @WorldVisionUK and @WorldVisionPR

On Facebook:

World Vision’s Facebook page  for news and stories on #childmarriage.

Share, RT and add your voice!

Sponsor a girl

Sponsoring a girl provides girls and their communities with education and support to empower them to take a stand against child marriage.

11. October 2012 by Aly Hodge
Categories: CHARITY | Tags: 2012, International day of the girl, World Vision | 2 comments