Every girl deserves the freedom to dream, to choose her own path, and to grow up free from violence, fear, and child marriage. But for the 12 million girls every year that are married before they turn 18, those dreams are stolen by poverty, harmful social norms, and a lack of opportunity.
That’s why World Vision is partnering with communities everywhere we work in Kenya and parts of Bangladesh in our Big Dream to End Child Marriage program, to sustainably reduce the prevalence of child marriage and other harmful practices. Through proven, community-led solutions — including Water and Sanitation access, Education access, behavior change, strengthened child protection systems, and Economic Empowerment — we’re addressing the root causes of child marriage and creating real, lasting change.
Today on International Day of the Girl, we invite you to partner with us in our work to end child marriage. With your support, we can protect more girls, empower more families, and ensure that every child has the chance to live a full life, free to dream big.
Don't forget to check out the Strong Women Strong World Facebook and Instagram feeds today — we are sharing the story of Sadia, president of her youth forum and a participant of World Vision’s Big Dream to End Child Marriage program who helped put a stop to 12 child marriages this year!
Read on for a partner reflection, learn more about the 1,000 Girls campaign, and get a sneak peek at our 2025 Strong Women Strong World event in New York City!
Partner spotlight:Hope begins in the dark
A reflection written by Strong Women Strong World Council member Linda Palmer
The World Vision initiative Big Dream to End Child Marriage was developed from the success and lessons learned through the Kenya Big Dream program. In September 2024, I learned about this new initiative. Having previously traveled to Kenya in 2023 to witness the Kenya Big Dream firsthand, supporting this next step felt like a natural progression for me as a World Vision donor. Ending child marriage is simply the right thing to do.
In April 2025, I joined a Vision Trip to Migori County, Kenya to gain a baseline understanding of child marriage and the complex issues surrounding it. What I encountered was a vortex of social, spiritual, economic, and cultural challenges — so tangled and overwhelming that, tongue in cheek, I concluded I was smarter before I arrived.
Childhood for girls in Kenya is marked by incredibly harsh realities. Even grown women still weep when recounting their childhood experiences. It broke my heart.
In the words of novelist Anne Lamott, “Hope begins in the dark…”
If I could show you only one picture from my Vision Trip, it would be this one. It’s the proverbial “picture worth a thousand words.”
This photo was taken at a secondary boarding school in Kenya, where we met girls sponsored by World Vision. Sitting in a large circle, the girls were invited to share how they came to live at the school. Some told simple stories of applying through a World Vision office. Others shared heart-wrenching accounts of feeling unloved, unsafe, and having no choice but to run away from home to escape female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage. One girl ran 12 miles to reach the school. Many covered their faces and wept as they spoke. These were strong girls paying an incredible price for the right to choose their own future. As one principal said, “They are lions.”
On this International Day of the Girl, we celebrate these girls — the lions — for their courage, resilience, and hope. Choosing to reject FGM and child marriage in Migori County comes with severe consequences. Families may lose community support and financial help with school fees. Girls are barred from celebrations, labeled outcasts, and seen as threats to tradition. They’re told they’ll never marry or have children. They face bullying, name-calling, and even physical abuse. Many suffer mistreatment from their own families and must isolate themselves to stay safe. It’s hard to fathom that a child should pay such a price for simply wanting a better future.
Look again at the picture. You may not see it immediately, but there is undeniable HOPE. A World Vision staff member embraces the girl, while others pray in the background. She’s sharing her story with donor partners who traveled to Kenya to listen, learn, and help mobilize resources to change her future. World Vision donors are covering her school fees. By being safely housed and educated, she’s significantly reducing her risk of child marriage and FGM. And within her community, World Vision is working holistically with stakeholders at every level to address the root causes.
As a donor, I was deeply moved by the trust and hope placed in World Vision. A Migori County official said, “If World Vision can’t do it, who will?” The Minister of Education shared, “When World Vision came, there was light at the end of the tunnel.” A local pastor added, “No NGO has ever done what World Vision has done.”
There is incredible hope for the future of this project. But sustained funding is essential to ensure long-term change. As a donor to Big Dream to End Child Marriage, I’m profoundly grateful to all who have joined the Community of Big Dreamers. YOU are part of this picture of HOPE. And to those whose hearts God is still calling — I invite you to come, join us. Let’s be the light at the end of the tunnel for the girls of Kenya.
1,000 Girls Campaign: Empowering girls out of child marriage
Each year we set a goal to see 1,000 girls sponsored by International Day of the Girl. Together, by God's grace, 1,000 girls are already stepping into brighter futures — so we want to open doors for 1,000 more!
Child sponsorship is the foundation of our approach, focused on improving the well-being of children in need, especially the most vulnerable. We invite you to sponsor a girl today, and to walk alongside them as they reach their God-given potential. Visit worldvision.org/1000girls to learn more!
Strong Women Strong World Annual Event: Her voice. Her future.
Our event this year will highlight the Big Dream to End Child Marriage program — featuring immersive storytelling and powerful performances. We will shine a light on the atrocities of child marriage and the forces that fuel it.
You will learn about those who have lived this experience and witness the unstoppable force of girls when they are free to dream, learn, and choose their own path.
Come be a part of the movement. We have so many exciting things in store:
Strong Women Strong World Council breakfast (8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)
Welcome reception and Christmas Marketplace (5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.)
Lend your voice (and your email): Join the World Vision Advocates — a community of ordinary people who desire to follow God's call to seek justice! Visit World Vision Advocacy to learn more.
Engage on social media: Follow Strong Women Strong World on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn for updates, inspiring stories, and more.
World Vision's Strong Women Strong World®
helps keep girls and women at the center of global community development, advocacy,
and emergency response work. Together, we can continue making a difference
in the lives of women and girls and accelerate communities’ progress out of poverty.
