Jasmine's Place Issue No. 15 - February 2015 | Page 29

All of this helps protect children from child marriage and educates parents to
make other choices.
Are there any other issues you would like to bring to attention
concerning Child Marriage in this interview?
World Vision recently released a report called Untying the knot which highlights
the fears faced by children and families which can lead to early marriage,
including the risks girls are put at when there is conflict or an emergency in their
country. You can read the report here:
http://www.worldvision.org.uk/upload/pdf/UNTYING_THE_KNOT_-_March_2013.pdf
Suborna’s story
The first time Suborna heard about
her marriage, she was just eight years
old. Her father took her out of school,
believing marriage was a better and
more affordable option than
education.
“When my father told me I was going
to be married, I felt my life had been
ruined. I visualized a life like that of
my mother - marriage, lots of
children. All dreams shattered,”
Suborna says.
Suborna immediately protested and
asked a World Vision Child Forum to
help persuade her parents to stop
the marriage. But, a few years later,
having become top of her class, her
parents raised the issue again.
“I was so unhappy. This time I told my
mother who did not agree with me
and they locked me in my room.” she
says.
Scared, Suborna made a plan. She
pretended to be seriously ill and was
taken to a nearby hospital. At the
hospital, she snuck out and returned to
her uncle’s home, where she had been
living to be close to school.
Again, World Vision’s Child Forum
stepped in to explain the law and
implications of child marriage to her
parents.
This time they gave their consent for
Suborna not to get married before she
turns 18. Finally her marriage was put
on hold.
“World Vision has made my parents
proud of me. I finally made my father
understand that his daughters could
be his support in old age. And I
succeeded. My youngest two sisters
are now also going to school,” Suborna
says smiling.
Originally published in Issue No. 6.
JASMINE'S PLACE
29