Financial Security Prevents Child Marriage

Driven by poverty and hunger, Sharifa's parents faced an agonizing choice, and planned to sell her to provide for their other children. Sharifa*, an 8-year-old girl, resides with her family in a village in Faryab Province, sharing a home with her parents and three siblings. 

Sharifa is keen on attending school and pursuing her education, yet the family's financial struggles have made this impossible. “My husband has been unemployed for several years, and we have no source of income to meet the basic needs of ourselves and our children. Due to poverty and a lack of facilities, I have not been able to send my children to school,” her mother, Karima, explained. 

To her parents, selling Sharifa seemed like the only solution to their financial struggles. However, when the village leader learned of this, he promptly informed the child protection case management team at World Vision about their plight. 

The Child Protection Team from World Vision, funded by the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund (AHF), visited Sharifa's family for an interview, which included Sharifa herself. During this session, the World Vision team identified both the family's needs and potential solutions. 

The team asked Sharifa’s father, Zarif, if he would reconsider selling his daughter if he were given a source of income. He said yes. Zarif expressed a strong interest in having a job that would provide for his family. “In addition to withdrawing from selling Sharifa, I would send my children to school and pay all their expenses,” Zarif added. 

Following initial assessments, providing employment emerged as a key solution to the family's challenges. Under its initiative, World Vision supported Zarif by providing him with a vegetable cart, facilitating a means of livelihood. 

Zarif now sells staples like potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and various vegetables from his cart. This new source of income enables him to support his family. Most importantly, it prevented Sharifa from being sold. 

Several months later, during a follow-up visit, the World Vision team discovered that Zarif was successfully earning a substantial income with the cart. He expressed his gratitude, saying, “We are very happy with the services, and I’m able to meet the needs of our children.” 

He assured the World Vision team that he would never sell any of his children and is committed to ensuring educational opportunities for all his children. 

World Vision is dedicated to making sure children like Sharifa are healthy, equipped with life skills, nurtured, and protected within their family.  

* All names are changed to protect identities.