bgd age matters in marriage final io eng sept 13

8/13/2019 BGD Age Matters in Marriage Final IO Eng Sept 13

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Plan BangladeshHouse # CWN (B) 14Road 35Gulshan 2Dhaka 1212BangladeshTel: +880 2 9860 167


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Mingming Remata-EvoraCountry Director, Plan Bangladesh

Disclaimer : Plan is committed to ensuring the security, privacy and dignity of all the children thatwe work with. All copyrights reserved. No part of this publication/photo may be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means wit hout prior permissionof Plan Bangladesh. Please email [email protected] for more information.

Having skills is important, but equally important is to havepassion. Bernice Wong, the photographer of this publication,combines in herself both skills and passion in equal measure.

The result is a collection of some memorable photographsthat will move you both intellectually and emotionally.

The publication presents six photo stories, each depicting thelife of a young mother, her struggles and achievements, hervulnerability and strength. In a way this is a celebration of theyoung women's indomitable spirits in the face of innumerableodds. We, at Plan, are promoting the same spirit through ourglobal campaign 'Because I Am A Girl'.

I also must mention that Bernice Wong did this project free ofcharge. What inspired her, and brought her all the way fromSingapore, was her passion for photography and also for her

strong commitment to the cause Plan is fighting for - girls'empowerment. As you can see, Bernices feeling for the causecomes across convincingly through her photographs.

Plan Bangladesh is pleased to have worked with BerniceWong and make this publication a reality.

Concept : Tony Michael Gomes Director Communications and Public Relation

Photographs : Bernice Wong Shu Fen

Special thanks : Dr. Hrishikesh Sarker Programme Unit Manager, Nilphamari Programme Unit

Design andProduction : Expressions Ltd


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Afroza- A Struggler

Rajbanu- Compromises with Life

Rani- Loves to Live

Rujina- A Fallen Petal

Shefali- Wrapped with Sufferings

Sherina- Still Hopeful

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Bernice Wong is a young, aspiring documentary photographer from Singaporekeen sense of adventure and the lovestory-telling has seen her document a wide vaof tales that have previously not receivedattention these merited. This includes captuthe lives of young, hopeful Nepali stustudying in a forgotten public school to expanthe narrative surrounding migrant workerSingapore beyond stale stereotypes as wedocumenting the initiation of young boys formal monkhood in Hsipaw.

As she goes on to hone her craft, she hopesher photography will be a platform for untoldunheard stories. It is her humble and modest that these visual narratives go on to coempathy, awareness and even maybe inaction.

- photo evidences created by Bernice WongAGEAGEmatters!


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Afroza is 17 years old. She had just given birthto a pair of twins some 60 days ago. Shes oneof the many young mothers in Bangladesh andshe has a strong message to all the girls outthere.AfrozaAfroza


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On good days, Afroza could finish tfood. More often than not, she struggShe attributes this to the loss of appwell as the fear of vomiting.


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Afroza shared her struggles as amother. Among which, she cited difbreastfeeding both her children duelack of breast milk.


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Looking back at a photo taken in 20noticed how much her young boweathered through marriage and pregn


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Rajbanu had her first daughter when she wasbarely 14 years old. Since then, she has beensuffering from uterine prolapse.

RajbanRajban


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Rajbanu delivered her four daughters on thiher home. At that very spot.


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Rajbanu with the local dai (traditionattendant) who had helped with children. The dai shared that she delaverage of 5-7 babies weekly, and that half of them are for girls under the age


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Rajbanu has been living with uterus pfor 7 years.

*Uterine prolapse can happen childbirth or difficult labor and delivoccurs when the muscles which huterus in place weaken or damage anthe uterus to fall into the vaginal cana


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Uterine prolapse has affected Rquality of life significantly. Slightly work like pumping the well makes uncomfortable, but she has learned to laccept this discomfort.


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Rani and her husband have been trying for ababy since she got married at 11 years old. Ithas been 7 years and she is now a mother toa four-month old baby. However, she was putin a life-threatening situation during delivery

At 18, she could have lost her life inchildbirth.

RanRan


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Due to birth complications, Rani pasfor two days. She had to undergotransfusion as well, because of the blood lost during delivery.


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She has not fully recovered ever sincdizzy spells, general body weaknswollen feet.


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(from L to R : husband, Ramother-in-law, father-in-law with 4 mobaby in tow)


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RujinRujin


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Rujinas teachers and neighbours haddissuade her parents, but to no avail.


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Everybodys life is like a flower.

Rujina shared,

She had used this andescribe the impact of child marriaadolescent motherhood on young girls


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Resuming school and returning to her firstlove will be an elusive dream. Rujina resolvesnever to let her own child be prematurelyrobbed of her education in the same way.


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ShefalShefal


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She suffers from chronic and acute pain in theanus before passing motion. Her bowelmovement is also irregular due to hercondition.

When I am in pain, I cannot do anythingbut to squat. It helps a little bit, but it stillhurts. I cannot sit down or lie down, itwould make things worse.


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Shefali feels her body getting weaweaker by the day. She is constantly fand has lost interest in the everyday acOn bad days, she is unable to muster

strength to move around.

I just lie down on my bed and watchactivities outside.


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She has tried various forms of treatmeconsulting several doctors so far buhave been effective. Currently, she h

taking medicine from the kobiraj (trahealer who uses ayurvedic medicineyears, but she sees no improvementcondition.


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Shefali shuts herself at home most of tas isolation provides a temporary solathe stigma and public shaming engendher condition.

*Fecal incontinence, and

accompanying odour, creates a sstigma for people suffering from fistula. This doubly compounds plight.


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Sherina is 24 years old but has alreadygone through 11 pregnancies. 6miscarriages and 5 neonatal deaths

later, she has decided to adopt a childinstead.

SherinSherin


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Daily prayers became part of Sherina'smechanism.


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Initially, Sherinas parents and relati

bought clothes for her child each time pregnant. She has since given away them, but still remains hopeful adecided to keep some for the future.


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Right now, Sherina is very happy w

adopted child. She has decided to body, battered from 11 pregnancies, break. She has expressed her desire toanother child in 2015.


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Because I Am A Girl (BIAAG) is a 5-year globalcampaign initiated by Plan across all the 68countries Plan works in. The campaign aims tosupport four million girls to get the education,skills and support they need to move themselvesfrom poverty to opportunity.

Globally, one in three girls around the world isdenied an education by the daily realities ofpoverty, discrimination and violence. Every day,young girls are missing out on an education,forced into marriage and subjected to violence.

What is BIAAG all about?

The power of this is astonishing. It saves lives andtransforms futures, releasing the real potential ofgirls and their communities.

For Plan Bangladesh the focus of the BIAAGcampaign is to Stop Child Marriage. Child Marriageis a huge problem in Bangladesh, putting girlchildren in danger of serious health hazard,increasing infant mortality or children with poorhealth and of course keeping girls and women fromtaking part in development process. Through thecampaign Plan Bangladesh seeks to get the issue ontop of the national development agenda.

...less likely to experience violence or marry andhave children while she is still a child herself....more likely to be literate, healthy and survive intoadulthood, as are her children....more likely to reinvest her income back into herfamily, community and country.more likely to understand her rights and be a forcefor change.

A girl who has completed her education is ...

That equates to some 75 million girls out of education globally.

Not only is this unjust. Its also a huge waste of potential withserious global consequences.Supporting girls education is one of the single best investmentswe can make to help end poverty.

bgd age matters in marriage final io eng sept 13

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