Traditionally the girl children have been subjected to different kinds of discriminations in the family, society and in the country. As a result, they lag far behind the boys in terms of health, education, nutrition and other socioeconomic indicators. This systematic discrimination and abuse have placed the girl children in precarious position. This has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the future of the adolescent girls and their contribution in the country’s socio-economic development has been put under a question mark. Early marriage is one of the most vital subjects keeping behind the girls children from all kinds of development aspects. Early marriage is the single fact but it affects goes beyond family to country. Rural Development Youth Forum has taken an alternative initiative to prevent early marriage in the Balagram union. Most of the parents want to get married their daughter rather than educated. Because society yet consider the girls as burden and want to stop the burden arranging marriage as early as possible. “ We getting early marriage a boy is also losing a potential girls who had opportunity to do something more for the family and society and by this way next generations as following the same thing as their parents have done” said Mamun, president of Rural Development Youth Forum, Balagram union of Jaldhaka upazila.
To prevent early child marriage and other causes related to the early marriage an alternative initiative has been taken by the youth forum. They have identified the poor families and the girls who are at risk considering age. The youth forum is providing sewing training for 30 girls by the own initiative of youth forum. After finishing schools these girls will learn sewing training for 30 days course. The local trainers are conducting the sewing training only for minimum costs. Training was started on 1 February2016 through an inauguration ceremony. Balagram high school SMC provided a room where the girls are learning sewing training. “I salute the initiative of the youth of Balagram union. Youth have proved that they did not limit themselves by doing meeting and seating but have a very soft corner for the girls who are losing their future only for early marriage. I know through this initiatives many girls will be benefited not only herself but also family as well” said Aminur Rahman, ex-head teacher, Okhrabari government primary school while delivering speeches of chief guest in the sewing training inauguration session. We are communicating with service providing institutions and the people so that we may provide sewing machines after finishing the course. USS is working with the youth forums in Jaldhaka upazila since 2006 and developing their capacity by providing different trainings/workshops/exposure visit so that the youth forum can contribute in the development of society and country from their end.
Reported by:
Pobon Malo
Project Coordinator
USS, Jaldhaka, Nilphamari.
