Child Writes_Volume 6, Issue 2

Quarterly newsletter
COMMUNITY ORGANISATION
SAVES ALEENA FROM CHILD MARRIAGE
Abdul Qayyum
Aleena Atta, 14 years old, is a student of grade 7. She lives in a small house in Sharpur
village with five other family members. Her village is situated in the Union Council
Sumra of the Lodhran District, Punjab. Aleena's father passed away when she was very
young and her mother re-married. Aleena was engaged at the age of 13 and her fiancé's
family demanded that the marriage should take place a year later, to which her
stepfather agreed.
Aleena wanted to study – she couldn't imagine getting married at such an early
age, moving away from her family and giving up school. However, living in a deeply
patriarchal society, she couldn't dare oppose her step father's decision.
Besides, preparations for Aleena's wedding were already underway. Aleena found it very
hard to study and go about her everyday life – the life of a 13 year old girl.
The Improving the Lives of Children (ILC) project, run by Save the Children, focuses on
protecting children in the Lodhran District. In September 2015, Aleena's mother, Sughra
Bibi, joined a community organisation in her village, which was formed as part of the ILC
project. She also attended various training and awareness sessions, including one on
child marriages and their complications. She also learnt about the details of the Punjab
Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Act 2015.
On the basis of her new found knowledge, Aleena's mother reasoned with her husband
to postpone Aleena's marriage until she turns 18 and finishes high school. It took a while,
but she was able to convince him that child marriages are the cause of irreversible
damage and can harm more than one generation. Aleena's step-father discussed this
with Aleena's in-laws to be, and talked them into delaying the marriage. Finally, the two
families agreed to prolong the engagement until Aleena turned 18. Aleena has now
happily resumed her former life and attends school regularly. Aleena says:
Aleena on her way back from school
Lodhran: Abdul Qayyum / Save the Children
I was very worried about my future. Everywhere I
turned, there was talk of my wedding – even my friends
had started planning songs and dances for my
wedding. I am very happy now and I want to continue
my studies even after the 10th grade. There is no
female doctor in our village or in the nearby villages; I
want to become a doctor and work in my village so
that girls and women can get proper medical care.
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