Combating forced early marriage in a Ugandan slum

Forced early marriage is common in Uganda, but can wreck a child’s chances for a job and income later in life – so Child of Hope is tackling the issue for its girl pupils with their families and local community. 

In Uganda a girl is married off early because a dowry (cows, goats, etc) is paid to her parents. So if a family needs cash, they may look to marry her off as soon as possible, meaning she could miss out on education – placing her (and her children) at a disadvantage in the future.

At Child of Hope, staff encourage the parents to treat their sons and daughters exactly the same when it comes to education… helping them understand that an educated daughter is better able to care for them in the future.