A Voice: All Girls Heard and Wanted to Be

Yeasmin is a 13-year-old girl from Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. She lives with her parents and is a happy, active girl. She is in grade 7 at a local madrasa and spends her days going to school and hanging out with friends, just like any other girl her age. One day, something happened in Yeasmin’s life that she would rather like to forget. However, sometimes life brings challenges that help us discover our strengths and learn how to rise again. 

Yeasmin was shocked when her mother told her that her father had decided to marry her off to an expatriate man, without knowing much about him. Yeasmin immediately refused and protested, but her father was determined. He believed that the man’s financial stability made the marriage a good choice. As a result, Yeasmin was taken out of school by her father. Her father quickly started preparing for the marriage to avoid further trouble. Yeasmin began to lose hope of continuing her education. But deep down, she made a promise to herself: if the marriage ever happened, she would stand up for other girls so they wouldn’t face the same fate. Would her wish ever come true? 

“I was scared and didn’t want to get married. I wanted to study, not leave school and my friends. I thought my dreams and wishes would end forever.” Yeasmin recalled. 

Feeling helpless and afraid, Yeasmin was determined to find a way out as a last hope. She reached out to Mahmud, a member of the Community-Based Child Protection Committee supported by the “Joining Forces for Food Security & Child Protection in Emergencies” (JF-FS&CPiE) project. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Mahmud intervened immediately. He initiated a dialogue with her parents, educating them about the harmful physical, emotional, and social impacts of child marriage. At first, her parents were resistant, but gradually they softened and began to consider the negative consequences of child marriage. 

In addition, Mahmud contacted the Head Teacher of Yeasmin’s Madrasa and secured her re-enrollment with full financial support for her continued education. This timely action not only halted the marriage but also protected Yeasmin’s right to education and personal development. 

Yeasmin has been involved with the JF-FS&CPiE project since July 2024. Her journey began after a home visit by the project’s Child-Friendly Space facilitator. Eager to make the most of the opportunity, Yeasmin quickly decided to participate. As a member of the adolescent group, she actively engaged in regular Psychosocial Support sessions and successfully graduated from the life skills program, with her batch completing the program in February 2025. 

The sessions she attended covered a range of important topics, including: 

• Child rights and protection 

• Child marriage and child labor 

• Types of violence against children 

• Problem-solving 

• Decision-making skills 

• Assertive communication 

“Through these sessions, I learned about my rights and how to say ‘no’ with confidence and proper justification. Gradually, along with learning other skills, I began to understand why early marriage is harmful,” Yeasmin shared. 

Empowered by knowledge and self-belief, Yeasmin transformed into a young leader and advocate for child rights. She now regularly engages in informal discussions with her peers about the dangers of child marriage and confidently addresses these issues with her family and community members, encouraging other girls to stay in school. Many girls often share with Yeasmin that they want to be like her and make a positive impact on their community. 

“I want to be an agent of change. I will work with my friends and share what I’ve learned from BITA (local implementing partner),” Yeasmin shared, her voice filled with hope and determination. 

When someone stands firm to fulfill their own will and create a positive change for themselves and their community, everything begins to change with the flow. Today, Yeasmin’s parents, once unaware of the consequences of child marriage, are now her strongest supporters.  

“I, along with my wife, didn’t realize the harm we were doing. Now we are truly grateful to Mahmud and the JF-FS&CPiE project team working in our area for showing us a better path for our daughter,” shared Abu Hamid, Yeasmin’s father, with heartfelt gratitude. 

Yeasmin continues her education with renewed confidence and a dream of building a brighter future—not only for herself but for others like her. Her story is a powerful testament to the impact of awareness, timely intervention, and the enduring value of investing in adolescent empowerment through community-based protection systems. Yeasmin’s voice has become a symbol that influences and energizes other girls, creating a wave of positive change for the future.