44 MISSION
These 5 unstoppable girls are bein
G
irls are being denied their basic rights every day. They’re being robbed of their dignity, removed from their classrooms, or placed in violent and dangerous situations. When families face economic hardship, it’s often women and girls who suffer disproportionately. But girls are also the key to ending poverty. When women and girls have an equal part in development, we see a positive ripple effect across their families, communities and nations. We’re sharing stories from five incredible girls we have the privilege of knowing, who are overcoming the issues poverty places in their paths, thanks to the support of their local churches. Meet the unstoppable girls who are defying the odds.
to the invaluable support she’s receiving from her Compassion sponsor, who provides her with books, school uniform and tuition fees through their monthly donations. Thanks to this support, Shanti is able to give back to her community, by tutoring her neighbour’s children for free. “I like to teach them, since it allows me to expand and practice what I know. It also helps me develop my teaching skills. My goal when I complete my education is to become an excellent teacher.”
Florence
Shanti
1) Shanti, fighting for education, Bangladesh 15-year-old Shanti belongs to one of Bangladesh’s largest indigenous minority groups. One of the greatest challenges children like Shanti face is that the Chakma people mainly speak their own tribal language rather than the majority language, Bengali. This puts children from this group at a disadvantage in the educational system, where only Bengali is spoken. Children from the Chakma group tend to drop out of school to join their family in agricultural labour which perpetuates the cycle of poverty. With a passion for her studies, Shanti has accomplished something unheard of in her community: she’s trilingual, understanding not only Chakma, but also Bengali and English. Shanti has broken the mould for girls, thanks Find us on Twitter and Facebook: @KeepTheFaithmag
2) Florence, taking a stand against FGM, Kenya Florence Lomariwo’s lifelong crusade against FGM started with her own narrow escape. When she turned nine, she learnt that she was to undergo FGM, then be married. “An old man had approached my family to arrange a marriage with me,” she recalls. “I didn’t want to be married, so I ran away and lived with well-wishers, who supported my desire to complete my education and make something of myself.” Her determination paid off. After finishing secondary school, Florence enrolled in a teacher training college, and later graduated with a degree in education. She then married the man of her own choice - a privilege few women her age knew. This gave Florence the credentials and platform she needed to effect change. Today, Florence runs a school and rescue centre for girls who escaped FGM and early marriage. Through Florence’s dedication and hard work, Chemolingot Primary School is home to more than 150 young girls, who have been rescued from FGM and early marriage. Among the girls who have found refuge at the primary school in the past, 11 are currently attending public universities and colleges, and 49 are attending various high schools around the country. In 2016, Florence’s church, African Inland Church Chemolingot, partnered with Compassion to launch a project and register children into the
sponsorship programme. Today, 252 children gather every Saturday at the local church to participate in different activities and lessons. As part of these Compassion project activities, Florence is helping ensure the children in her community receive ongoing education about their rights. She is also making sure parents are provided with training about the dangers of FGM. 3) Noojee, tackling child marriage and bridal kidnapping, Thailand “I didn’t want to marry him, but it’s tradition,” Chompuu says. At only 13, she was another victim of the age-old custom of bride kidnapping. Bride kidnapping and child marriage are common among Chompuu’s people, the Hmong. According to tradition, a male can abduct a girl and lock her in a room, after which he can claim her as his bride. 17-year-old Noojee, also from Chompuu’s Hmong village in Thailand’s northern hill country, is living a different life. She is unmarried, and she is pursuing an education. The difference in Noojee’s life is largely attributed to her local church’s partnership with the Compassion Child Sponsorship Programme. Noojee’s parents are subsistence farmers, and live in the same house with six other families in their clan. The families share their earnings equally with the others. “It was quite a challenge when Noojee was first registered in the programme,” recalls Lursak SaeJang, the director of the project. “Her family had the typical mindset that girls don’t need education and must remain at home to serve the family.” But when Noojee’s father witnessed the transformation in his daughter, who was becoming a strong and courageous person through the influence of the church and its Compassion programme, he decided to take the family to church. Over time, the whole family placed their faith in God. “In my community, there are so many expectations on me because I am a girl,” says Noojee. “But I am so thankful that my family are Christians, and that my parents support me in going to school.”
Noojee