When families live from hand to mouth, unsure where their next meal will come from, education isn’t even on their radar. But education in third world countries can give kids the literacy and skills to escape poverty.
Unfortunately, in some extreme cases, parents will even force their daughters into unhealthy marriages, so they won’t have to feed them anymore.
That’s why Bright Hope works so hard to help children like Monica gain the educational tools necessary to build a sustainable life.
Monica’s Nightmare
At the onset of the pandemic, Monica was preparing to complete her primary education at Nimaro Education Centre in Oyam, Uganda. Sadly, her father didn’t support her education. Instead, he wanted to marry her off.
Truly, Monica had persevered through many struggles as she tried to convince her father to let her attend school. Like many other girls in Oyam, she endured the pressure to marry early and often faced abuse when she refused. In time, her luck seemed to run out.
The COVID lockdown of schools in Uganda made it easier for Monica’s father to carry out his cruel plan. Monica was secretly married off at the age of fifteen. Her school authorities tried to locate her, but the family kept lying about her forced marriage. They insisted that she had gone to live with a distant aunt.
Two years after the lockdown, Monica resurfaced. She contacted the Bright Hope Uganda team requesting help. She faced brutal domestic violence at the hands of her husband, who had already found another woman to live with. Her only option was to get her child and go home to her parents – and to the father who never wanted her in the first place.
Monica’s Dream
When Bright Hope intervened, Monica’s father was already pestering her to return to her abusive marriage. But Bright Hope found her a place to live at her former school with a female teacher who is supporting her. She has enrolled in school and her mother helps by caring for her baby girl.
Through Bright Hope’s wholistic support, Monica has regained her freedom and is now pursuing her dreams. She hopes to become a teacher who can someday work with girls facing similar problems in the community of Oyam.
You Can Fulfill Someone’s Dream of Education
Education forms the foundation of a hope-filled, sustainable future. Please consider partnering with us to provide ongoing access to education for impoverished individuals. Together, we can put an end to the generational cycle of poverty one life at a time!
