– I was on my way home from school when I met an older man on a motorbike. I had seen him and the motorbike earlier when I went to and from school, so I recognized him. He stopped and called on me and said he wanted to know where I lived. I told him and he sought out my parents. It turned out he had chosen me and was interested in me as his wife. He was much older than me and it felt weird, as I was only a child. He continually asked my parents to marry me and he promised to give me a house, food, clothes, medicines if I got sick, and safety. He promised to give me everything that we poor people only can dream of. My parents were unsure, but he often came back to ask if they had changed their minds. I was devastated but had to do what my parents decided.

I was married during a simple ceremony and went with him on his motorbike to the town where he lived. I had to leave my parents, my five siblings and my friends. I cried and did not want to, I was so scared. When I came to the mans’ house it was not as he had described it to my parents. He lived very simple and was not at all rich, as he had said. He lied to my parents.

I did not have any contact with my parents after he had taken me with him. I did not know anything about sex and pregnancy and the first night with the man was very painful. I did not know anything about how to protect myself and quickly became pregnant. I felt completely helpless, how could I be pregnant? I was only a child myself! I had my son during extreme pain in a neighbouring house, with a woman who helped me. It was horrible. I gave birth to a child before I had turned 13 years old and I felt very alone and cried a lot. Having to sit inside and see other girls go to school was awful.

It was a relief when a person from our organisation looked me up. They had found out what had happened. They explained to my husband that a marriage to a child is prohibited by law and said that he did not have any legal right to keep me. They helped to bring me back to my parents and I was so relieved. It was a great day when I got to come back home.

Now I go to school again and it makes me happy. I want to learn all about my rights and especially learn to read and write. It was a great relief to come back home, my parents regretted themselves and took me back despite the poverty we live in. Now my son and I live with my family and the man I was married to has been reported. He did not want to see me anymore and not our son either. But I still do not feel completely safe knowing he can come back. The most important thing to me is to finish school so that I can help my family. I wish that no child in the world would have to marry and have children.”

Our colleagues continue to work with informative activities regarding these topics in Ethiopia, DR Congo and Brazil. It is so important that girls' rights are respected and that they are to get help to know how to make decisions about their bodies and their future.