Globally girls are married every two seconds while still children. That's an estimated 12 million girls married each year, resulting in profound negative consequences for girls, their families, and their entire communities. Alarmingly, it is estimated that more than 65% of Yemeni girls are now being married off before age 18, compared to 50% before the recent conflict began. Looming famine makes child marriage an increasingly attractive option to families desperate for one less mouth to feed.
Keeping girls in school is proven to prevent child marriage. TYTW provides emergency assistance and education to girls in humanitarian settings where child marriages are most common. At $0.48 per meal, this year's grant will provide girls in need with a guaranteed healthy breakfast - incentivizing parents to value education over marriage. We provide a complete breakfast of bread, milk, fruit, and protein (egg, tuna, or cheese), creating meals based on the recommendations of a nutritionist.
Child marriage is often employed by families out of financial desperation, and only offers short-term economic relief. If encouraged to stay in school, these girls can live full lives and will be better equipped to help support their families in later years. At the Abdulla Al Baradoni School, our girls laugh, play, and learn. This is critical, not only for the girl, but for the next generation, as each girl that evades child marriage will likely prevent her own children from marrying early.
Watch our girls in action here!
Our local partners in Yemen!