Save a Girl from Child Marriage with a Scholarship

Your gift provided a scholarship for Maria in Bangladesh to attend school! Because of that, she was saved from becoming a child bride. Thank you!

When Maria was only nine years old her father left the family and they were destitute. By the time Maria was 12, her mother decided to give her in marriage to an older man because she could no longer afford to pay her school fees.

Maria was terrified! She knew other girls who had been married young, and their lives were lonely and filled with back-breaking manual labor. Getting married at her age would put her at risk of serious health problems that could continue for the rest of her life. She wanted to stay with her mother and brother, and to go to school.

But there was no money to pay for her school fees and, without that, Maria’s mother didn’t see a reason for her daughter not to get married. She wanted Maria to be taken care of and she believed a husband would provide that.

Then, because of the generosity of people like you, Maria was given a scholarship, and she was able to stay in school. That meant she didn't have to get married. She has continued her education and worked hard to gain incredibly high marks. Her goal is to become a teacher and work with poor and disadvantaged children like herself.

Girls who stay in school are six times less likely to be married off before their 18^th birthday. Staying in school means Maria will have a good job one day and escape the cycle of poverty that child marriage brings.

Thank you for giving Maria a way to rise above poverty and have a better life!