our impact

Cousins Kuji, 19 and Kpemeh, 18 wear their Ending Child Marriage Champion T-shirts in Kailahun, Sierra Leone. Photo: Shona Hamilton / Save the Children Shona Hamilton / Save the Children

Zaynab*, 16, lives in Borno, northeast Nigeria. Zaynab* is a Girl Champion for Save the Children Nigeria and has taken part to global, regional, and national level events speaking up on issues around girls and how conflict in the Northeast Nigeria affects children. She says that early child marriage is a form of violence that "denies a girl of her childhood, disrupts her education and limits her opportunities." Zaynab's* childhood friend was married off by her parents and died in childbirth. Zaynab* says that what happened to her friend motivated here even more to advocate against early marriage. Another issue Zaynab* is passionate about is access to education: she says she was deeply affected when she was out of school for one year due to conflict in the region where she lives. Zaynab* says that living in a conflict area like Borno affects children in many other ways. For example, she says that children in her area are at risk of "being abducted", and that boys are sometimes recruited by armed groups as child soldiers. Zaynab* thinks that during increased tensions in Borno, child marriage rates increase due to parents taking the opportunity to take their daughters out of school and marrying them off. Etinosa Yvonne / Save the Children

Munni 18, is a trailblazer in her community, becoming the first girl to try her hand at fish farming. She lives with her mum, dad, brother, and her sister Tanni, 12. Munni and Tanni do everything together “wherever I go, I take her along. I like it. I’m lucky to have a younger sister.” Tanni learns a lot from Munni and Munni hopes to lead by setting a good example for Tanni. Munni and her family felt the impact of climate change first-hand when their home was destroyed during the seasonal floods. “Half of our house was sunk in the mud. And my father repaired it himself. We’ve [been] through a lot here. It’s been painful”. Munni has taken part in training we’ve run in her community, as part of the Suchana Programme which is supporting communities to increase sustainable food production, treat malnutrition, educate women and girls on issues such as child marriage and build climate resilient practice to protect communities against flooding. Munni has learnt a lot as part of the training provided. Munni was given ducks so that she could sell the eggs for an income. Munni has also been shown how to fish farm in her small pond susceptible to floods and we provided her with all the equipment. She has been teaching other people in the community how to fish farm, particularly climate resilient practices, so that livelihoods are not destroyed during flooding. “Everyone praises that I am doing fish farming”. Munni is also a peer leader at one of the girls groups. “I love the meetings. I learned many new things”. Munni has become an advocate on subjects such as child marriage, health and nutrition. Munni is really passionate about these issues and teaches people in her community – “Even if they are not members of the girls group, even they are aware and understand. We teach them what we learn”. Fabeha Monir/Save the Children