The Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) members engaging parents and girl’s at a sensitization event in Tolon
Some girls who were forced into early and forced marriage in the Tolon District of the Northern Region have vowed to return to school.
This follows advocacy on early and forced marriage by the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) in the district.
The girls believe with the support of their husbands who have agreed to allow them go back to school they can make it.
The girls have formed clubs to support each other in their quest to return to school.
The Coordinator of the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN), Ignatia Safowaa Buaben, who disclosed this at various sensitization programmes in the area said the parents and husbands of the girls have also agreed to support them with their decision to continue with school.
“We have achieved real positive change because in at least two of the communities, even girls who have stopped school and gone into marriage have come up and agreed to go back to school. Their parents are ready to support them”
Madam Ignatia said chiefs in the various communities have also made by-laws to stop teenagers from roaming at night.
“And a chief in one of the communities said they have put a ban on the girls going out to record dance.”
She said parents who are now aware of the hazard of forced and early marriage are engaging their children to concentrate on their school.
“Parents are meeting their children weekly to talk to them to let them concentrate on their school and that is a great achievement”.
The Africa Faith & Justice Network (AFJN) is a faith-based, non-profit and pan African organization jointly supported by 29 US-based missionary congregations of religious women and men with focus on the Gospel and inspired by Catholic Social Teachings.
A parent commended the network for a good job done and appealed to the network to continue with the advocacy to help them eradicate the canker completely.
“Early and forced marriage is now a thing of the past in this community. Before it was very rampant but has reduced drastically so we urge the group to help us eliminate it completely”
FROM Eric Kombat, Tolon