At just 15, Geetha chose a tough path. She desperately wanted to stop her parents from arranging her marriage as a young girl, but she needed help to stand up for her rights, continue her education and pursue her dreams
The “Girls-7” Series: Geetha in India
Seven girls overcoming discrimination, deprivation and even danger, in seven different places. They share a common courage: to dream fearlessly in the face of adversity. They are examples of the importance of education, which offers a lifeline to safety today and the hope for a better future tomorrow, for both them and their community. This month in response to the G7 summit, Children Believe is calling on global leaders to create greater educational access for girls as a key solution to many major global challenges, not a problem to be fixed.
Living in a remote forest-based tribal village in central India, Geetha’s parents were intent on following a longstanding traditional path for their daughter, which calls for a girl of 15 to stop school and be married. Additionally, their reliance on day labour added to the financial pressures that force girls to be married too soon and their illiteracy limited their understanding of the harmful physical and emotional effects.
To prevent her impending marriage, Geetha decided to join a youth group run by a Children Believe partner, Rural Organization for Poverty Eradication Services (ROPES) which raises awareness and works with police to enforce child marriage laws. Through the program, Geetha’s parents learned that their decision to marry her too young was against the law. They received counselling, and eventually agreed to sign a promise they would not break the law.
To support the family to overcome the additional economic hardship, Geetha’s family also received supplies and a sustainable kitchen garden. ROPES also started a wider village development committee to educate local families about the law and the harmful effects of illegal cultural practices like forced marriage on children.
Now 22, Geetha has completed her Bachelor’s in Commerce and embraced her passion for service. As a volunteer in her village, she helps in a decentralized government satellite office that provides welfare and other services. And, she has joined ROPES as a Creative Learning Centre Facilitator for her village. This role has set the stage for her dream of becoming a teacher.
“Now in our village, all of the children go to school,” Geetha proudly states. “Before, due to economic problems, few transportation options, and an unsafe path through forested areas on a 6-km walk to school, it didn’t happen.”
Geetha’s bravery has sparked lasting change in her tribal community, it’s now been five years since a forced marriage has taken place. Her story is a strong example of how holistic development programs initiated by Children Believe and ROPES helps keep children, particularly girls, stay in school as an effective way to end child marriage.
The critical need for education
The latest research shows that if all the world’s children received 12 years of education, their combined lifetime earnings would double to $30 trillion USD globally. Children like Geetha have the strength and resiliency to overcome the darkest challenges in order to dream fearlessly and build a new future. Children Believe is part of a global movement asking for Canadian and global support at the G7 summit to help 40 million more girls gain access to education.
Learn how you can help empower more young women like Geetha to not just survive, but thrive.