Memory Banda’s life took a divergent path from her sister’s. When her sister reached puberty, she was sent to a traditional “initiation camp” that teaches girls “how to sexually please a man.” She got pregnant there — at age 11. Banda, however, refused to go. Instead, she organized others and asked her community’s leader to issue a bylaw that no girl should be forced to marry before turning 18. She pushed on to the national level … with incredible results for girls across Malawi.

Memory Banda: A warrior’s cry against child marriage

A warrior’s cry against child marriage

In Malawi, a young advocate transforms her community by fighting against child marriage, setting a new legal marriage age to 18.

Through grassroots mobilization, Malawian communities are rewriting norms, proving laws and voices can end child marriage in a generation.

In Malawi, a brave refusal to attend 'initiation camps' spearheaded a national law, setting 18 as the minimal marital age.