A Girl story who Scored 3rd Rank after She Escaped from Early Marriage !
The main harmful traditional practices in Amhara Region are child marriage and female genital mutilation, according to the 1999 report of the National Committee on Traditional Practices of Ethiopia. In the region, 43% of women from the age group 20-24 got married at the age of below 18. And this mainly affected girls who absent from school after marriage for full responsibility. Consequently, they were marginalized from economic, political and social participations.
Farmer Wasu Belay (61) lives in Tara Gedam Kebelle, Asiba Village. He is participating in mitigating early marriage and female genital mutilation through ORDA Ethiopia’s Accelerating Engagement of Youth in Policy Advocacy and Reporting for the Prevention of Harmful Practices and Violence against Children in Their Communities Project, which is funded by UNICEF. According to Farmer Wasu, early marriage is high in their kebele and school girls absented from school due to early marriage. Especially, if the proposed husband has good wealth or famous traditionally, the parents’ interest is very high, he said. As a witnessed, he heard of Maritu’s (17) early marriage from Asiba primary school, with the joint effort of the school community, police officers and him, and it was interrupted.
Beginning from 3 years ago, Maritu Fenta (aged 17 and at right the longer) was nominated for marriage. “When I was grade 5, I was nominated to marry a deacon but I opposed it. Once again, my parents asked me to marry when I was grade 7, last year. Then, collection of elder people came to our house immediately. At that time, my parents agreed and based on the tradition I was also asked to be agreed. But I run away from the village, and, sadly at the moment, I dropped off and my front tooth was broken.I reported the case to Asiba Primary School Principal. Hence, the school principal & Farmer Wasu told my father to stop the marriage. That is why I am learning my grade 8 this year,” she said.
Maritu (17) scored 3rd rank at grade 7; she has the vision to be a medical doctor.
Farmer Wasu is working with the school community to end early marriage in the kebele.