“I was almost a victim of child marriage, but I was saved.”

In a Nepali community near the Indian border, child marriage is the norm, and completing high school is rare. But Neha is at the forefront of change.

“I am 18 years old and I have stopped three child marriages.”

Four years ago, Neha found herself in the same situation she now works to prevent. At 14, her parents had agreed to marry her off to a “rich man from India, who owned a mobile phone shop.” The man was older and had already taken a wife five days earlier, but the wife ran away. Neha was against the marriage, but her parents were blinded by the perceived benefits of it, which included saving on dowry as the man had already received one from his first wife.

Despite her desperate pleas, her parents were insistent. She attempted to throw herself into hot oil to demonstrate her unhappiness and finally, in a daring move, Neha ran away from home to stay with her sister.

During that time, Neha’s family came across a World Vision programme promoting the importance of education. With her parents’ newfound understanding of education’s value, she returned to school, and when the opportunity for marriage came up again a year later, the family declined it.

Neha’s parents are now determined to ensure all their five daughters complete their schooling.

Today, Neha is leading the charge to end child marriage in her community. After school, she trains other young girls to resist and report instances of child marriage. With World Vision’s support, Neha also has a network of peer activists that functions as ears on the ground to monitor what’s happening in their community.

Children like Neha and her peers have played a significant role in preventing most of the 500 child marriages that have been stopped in the areas where World Vision operates in Nepal since 2018.

Neha’s story serves as a beacon of hope, demonstrating the transformative power of education and the resilience of young girls. Her inspiring story underscores the importance of immediate action.

Child marriage robs girls of their childhood and potential, perpetuating cycles of abuse and inequality. Join Neha in her mission to keep girls in school by sponsoring a girl by 11 October, International Day of the Girl.