Girls in Cox’s Bazar fighting child marriage after a second chance at education
Above: Some members of the Orchid Youth Club, including Shahina (fourth from left in pink). Photo: Asif Almas/FIVDB
Shahina Akhter* is a 16-year-old girl living in a host community in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. She lives with her father, mother, and two brothers. Due to persistent poverty and a lack of earning opportunities in her community, which also hosts high numbers of Rohingya refugees, her father was struggling to support the family as the sole breadwinner. As a result, Shahina had to drop out of school after first grade due to their financial difficulties, staying at home to assist with household chores and putting her ambition to learn on hold.
Above: Girls undertaking studies at the Orchid Youth Club, including Shahina (left, in pink). Photo: Asif Almas/FIVDB
That was until Shahina learned about the Orchid Youth Club, supported by the Australian Humanitarian Partnership and implemented by Friends in Village Development Bangladesh (FIVDB) with the support of Plan International. The club is designed to support adolescent girls like Shahina who have missed out on the opportunity to go to school, providing them with the chance to access non-formal education.
Shahina joined the club through her own initiative and with the encouragement of her father. She was quickly surrounded by a supportive community of girls who were facing similar challenges. With the help of the club's experienced coaches, she began to learn new skills and build confidence in her abilities.
"I love being here, and by joining the club, I have learned a lot of subjects like Mathematics, Bengali, English, and more," she said.
But the club offers more than just academic learning. After joining, Shahina learned about child protection issues, especially preventing child marriage, a common problem in her community. Shahina continues to take active role in this aspect of the club, working tirelessly to raise awareness and prevent child marriage among her peers.
Her efforts have paid off, as she has been able to successfully stop four child marriages in her community with the help of the local child protection committee. Shahina feels proud of what she has achieved and is grateful for the opportunities that the Orchid Youth Club has provided her.
Shahina's story is just one example of the impact the Orchid Youth Club has had on the lives of adolescent girls in her community. The club is breaking the cycle of social stigma and poverty while helping girls achieve their full potential. It provides a safe space for girls to learn, grow, and develop life skills that will help them overcome the challenges they face in their daily lives. It also promotes gender equality and empowers girls to take control of their lives and become leaders in their communities.
The Orchard Youth Club is supported through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership response in Bangladesh. The response is delivered by a consortium led by the six AHP partner NGOs and ten local NGO partners, with the support of the Australian Government.
*Name changed