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Imaye is 13 years old. At the age of 11, her parents gave her away to be married. She went to live with her in-laws, who - because of her delicate frame - forbid their son to attempt sexual contact. She would not have survived the pregnancy. When her husband attempted sexual intercourse, she ran away in the middle of the night. Her in-laws and husband were able to find her, and brought her back to her parents. Shortly thereafter, Imaye’s parents picked a new husband for their daughter. An AIDS test that was made available by Menschen für Menschen and is performed before a marriage is made final, saved the girl from greater harm: her husband-to-be was HIV positive and the marriage was declared invalid.
Because of support from Menschen für Menschen, Imaye is now able to attend school. Free time is spent helping around the house and in the field. She is sure of one thing: she never wants to marry again.
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Her parents look at her proudly; today their daughter is to be married. But the bride is shy, she is hiding behind a white veil. She is 14 years old and her future husband is a stranger; she has never seen him before.
Like many brides, Yeshi only found out that morning that she was to be married. This is to prevent the brides from attempting to run away. Her father is happy to have found a husband for her at all, one who will take her, even with such a small dowry. Like most child marriages, this is a transaction. And it is thought, the younger the bride, the more likely her innocence.
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Imaye was saved; for Yeshi it was too late. There are thousands of girls in Ethiopia that need our help: In many parts of Ethiopia, young girls still fall victim to female genital mutilation, and girls ages 11-16 are married, have to fulfil the desires of their husbands, bear their children and take care of the household. The consequences are dire: Many young girls die because of un-hygienic circumstances during genital mutilation or during the birth of their children, or they are abandoned because they are infected with fistula or HIV. The psychological trauma haunts them their entire lives. Women in Ethiopia know nothing of their rights or they cannot freely demand them. This is something that we have to change, together with the people of Ethiopia, through education, personal loans and opportunities. So that girls and women can pursue self-development - and thereby help the development of the country.
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“With your donations, Menschen für Menschen can expand programs and make long-term changes for the better.”
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