The bad news: in the 5 minutes it takes to read this blog, 128 girls under the age of 18 will get married. They live in every country of the world, and belong to every religion and cultural group.
The good news: we know how to help them. It’s not just Benin—CARE is working with communities and governments in 19 countries around the world to end child marriage.
What have we accomplished?
- Fewer girls get married: In Ethiopia’s TESFA project, active community members stopped 150 child marriages. In the TEMPS project in Mali and Benin, 15-26% of community leaders stopped promoting child marriage. In Jordan, CARE supports Syrian refugee families with daughters under the age of 18—they get money for every month they keep their girls in school instead of getting them married.
- More laws protect girls: In 4 countries: the US, Egypt, Nepal, and Guatemala, CARE has been instrumental in creating laws and policies to prevent child marriage.
- Girls are more confident: In Congo, Ethiopia, Mali, Zimbabwe, and Benin, girls in CARE’s child marriage prevention programmes report being more confident to stand up for their rights and speak out against child marriage.
- Girls stay in school: In Afghanistan, the Lower Secondary Community Based Education programme has helped get 1,140 girls into secondary school and 87% of those girls graduate. In India, Nepal, and Malawi, the Udaan model has given more than 2,000 girls a second chance at school.
- Health services get better: In Congo, Kenya, and Malawi, health centers improved their support for teenagers—both those who are married, and those who aren’t.
How did we get there?
- Look at the whole society: CARE focuses on social norms—the same set of behaviors that inform ad campaigns against littering and that Apple uses to sell you the iPhone—to create an environment where everyone changes their behavior.
- Create public debate: Plays, town-hall meetings, radio shows, poems—they are all ways to provoke a conversation about child marriage so the community can define solutions.
- Work with men and boys: The Engaging Fathers programme in Lebanon is a great example of how we think get men can get involved in conversations about child marriage as allies.
- Focus on positive examples: CARE’s research shows that showcasing positive examples and messages inspires others to do more. Burundi’s Abatangamucho programme gives men a space to talk to each other about how to support the women and girls in their lives.
Want to learn more?
Check out the Child, Early, and Forced Marriage report.
