CHILD MARRIAGE STORY IN BANGLADESH
Child Marriage Brought Irreversible Harm,
Education Ignites Hope for Girls
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Khadija was only 11 years old when, due to her family’s dire financial situation, she was forced to marry a stranger. She once dreamed of gaining knowledge in the classroom—but reality cruelly pushed her to lay down her books and say goodbye to the hopeful world of school.
At just 13, with her body not yet fully developed, she became pregnant and gave birth. After her child was born, she had to devote herself entirely to caregiving, yet due to the lack of proper care and rest, her health deteriorated, long plagued by underweight, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.
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Though Khadija’s dreams have been shattered and her body and spirit deeply scarred, she still holds onto a glimmer of hope in her heart: 'I hope my daughter won’t repeat my tragedy—I hope she can stay in school and pursue her dreams.' |
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Borsha hopes to become a teacher and inspire more girls to pursue knowledge. |
But not all stories end in despair. In another slum community, 15-year-old Borsha has found a way to reverse the fate of child marriage through the power of education.
She lost her father at just five months old. Her mother, working as a cleaner, earns only 330 taka per day (about HK$21)—barely enough to feed the family. Growing up in the congested slums of Bangladesh, Borsha faced danger and discomfort daily: drug trafficking at street corners, no privacy while bathing in public spaces, and flooding that regularly submerged their home during the rainy season.
But despite these hardships, she never let go of her textbooks. With grit and resilience, she clutched her pen and wrote her dreams into the pages of her future. The threat of child marriage was ever-present. Neighbours and relatives urged her mother to marry Borsha off to ease the financial burden. But her mother stood firm, choosing to support her education and not to give up hope for her future. With support from Plan International, Borsha stayed in school and refused the fate of child marriage. |
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HOW YOUR GIFT HELPS GIRLS IN BANGLADESH
Details of the project are as follows:
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Plan International’s Anti-Child Marriage Project in Bangladesh (one-off Donation)
You can offer scholarships and parenting sessions to educate parents on the harmful effects of child marriage, ensuring girls can pursue education and avoid becoming child brides.
- Donate HK$300: Provide 3 girls with a one-month scholarship
- Donate HK$600: Provide 6 girls with a one-month scholarship
- Donate HK$1,000: Provide 1 girl with a six-month scholarship and arrange 3 parenting sessions for 18 parents to learn about the harmful impacts of child marriage
- Donate HK$2,500: Provide 3 girls with a six-month scholarship and arrange 5 parenting sessions for 30 parents to learn about the harmful impacts of child marriage
- Donate HK$5,000: Provide 6 girls with a six-month scholarship and arrange 10 parenting sessions for 60 parents about the harmful impacts of child marriage
Girls Fund Monthly Donation
By donating $4 a day: you can support Plan International to develop a safe environment for girls in developing countries and let them be free from child marriage, Female Genital Mutilation, human trafficking, period poverty, and sexual violence, etc.
Other Donation Methods:
- Bank Transfer*
Please make a direct deposit into HSBC account #640-068318-838. - Crossed Cheque*
Please make a cheque payable to "Plan International Hong Kong Limited" - PayMe Donation
Please scan the QR code below to donate and enter your information (English name, telephone number, and email address) and state “26UNID001 - BGD” in the PayMe message box.
- AlipayHK Donation
Please scan the QR code below to donate
Allocation of donations
Plan International will allocate donations for designated projects in accordance with the donor’s intent. However, when the designated project is fully funded, additional donations will be used where needed most for more efficient use of resources without prior notice.