By Abdi, Hassan

16-year old Rahma became a mother at the age of 14 years. This is after her parents forcefully married her off to an older man when she was only 13 years. That, was unfortunately, the end of her education, dreams for her future and her right to be a child.

Rahma’s case is one of many witnessed at the Daadab Refugee Camp. Other than forced child marriages, children at the camp are exposed to multiple protection threats, violence, abuse and exploitation. While the old challenges and protection abuses such as over-crowding, sexual and gender-based violence and family separation have remained, new worrying trends of protection threats are being witnessed affecting children and families.

42% of school-aged children in Dadaab are out of school. Girls’ access to education is especially a challenge due to social and economic factors coupled with social norms and traditions such as forced early childhood marriages that disadvantage them.

It is for these reasons that Save the Children in partnership with UNICEF has been supporting child mothers in Daadab Refugee Camp through support group programs and life skills training. Rahma was identified by our team of frontline case workers who conduct home visits within the camp.

Other than life skills training, the girls are also given start-up kits to enable them use the skills learnt to do businesses and support themselves and their children.

I am very grateful to Save the Children and UNICEF. The counselling and training I received enabled me to start my own business and I can comfortably support my family, said a delighted Rahma.