“How I almost became a wife at 11.”

 “I was deeply shocked after hearing the news from my neighbour. I couldn’t believe it was true. I was weeping and silently praying,” says 11-year-old Ferdaushi Ara, who lives in Bangladesh.

She had just leaned that she would be married.

Ferdaushi’s prayers were those of a child desperate to stay out of marriage and get an education. But poverty made that an unlikely reality.

While her parents and six brothers were away at work during the day, Ferdaushi would stay home in their single roomed house taking care of her three-year-old sister. 

Worldwide, there are 85 million children—just like Ferdaushi—who are involved in some form of child labour. Thirty-five per cent of them are working in services that include domestic work or caretaking. With each day spent toiling and not learning, these children are missing out on their potential for a brighter future.

Hope for a New Life

The horizon brightened a little for  Ferdaushi when World Vision set up an education centre in the community where she lived. At the Hope For New Life Centre children who couldn’t afford to attend school still had the opportunity to learn. 

Ferdaushi was delighted to finally be getting the education she always dreamed of. So you can imagine how shocked and devastated she was when she learned that her parents were arranging her marriage. 

Ferdaushi’s parents were afraid that their daughter’s new education would drive the cost of her dowry up higher than they could afford to pay. They had found the 11-year-old a husband  who was ten years her senior. 

Bravely, Ferdaushi went to the education centre’s management committee to tell them she was at risk of becoming a child bride. The committee went all the way to the local commissioner after Ferdaushi’s parents refused to call off the marriage. And through education and discussion, they were able to change her future. 

"I will educate my child."

Everyone, including Ferdaushi’s parents, has a different outlook now: “I found out my fault, and I didn’t know early marriage was a fault. Now, I promise that I will educate my child,” says Ferdaushi’s mother.

“I can’t describe my feelings,” says Ferdaushi with a laugh. “But God replied to my prayers and I am now free. I will be a teacher in the future,” she says with confidence.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

How You Can Help

• Sponsor a girl in need: Sponsorship makes a long-term investment in the life of a girl, her family, and her community, providing greater access to life-giving basics like nutritious food, clean water, medical care, and education -- the foundation for a future of independence and hope.
• Join World Vision at one of our Girl Rising events: Our Girl Rising events help raise awareness of the importance of investing in the lives of girls around the world. Girl Rising is the critically acclaimed movie that is spearheading a global campaign fighting for the right of all girls to an education. It features the stories of 4 girls from 4 countries and is narrated by a number of award winning stars including Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Cate Blanchett.
Look out for an event in your county soon. For more information on scheduled events please call 01 498 0800.Join World Vision at one of our Girl Rising events: Our Girl Rising events help raise awareness of the importance of investing in the lives of girls around the world.
• Share our VISION: Be a part of our Girl Rising campaign and share this message with the world. Use Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google+ and Pinterest to spread the word. Let’s educate the world by educating girls.

Raise your voice and let others know how important it is to educate and invest in the lives of girls.

(Source: www.worldvision.ca)

Source : http://www.worldvision.ca/ourwork/Our-Stories/Pages/almost-a-child-bride.aspx