Atou's story

Atou was cared for from an early age by her grandmother in Nigeria, however her story highlights the impact of humanitarian crises on rates of child marriage. Climate change induced droughts in Africa, conflicts around the globe and the impacts of COVID-19 are all putting girls at greater risk.  

"Living with my grandmother was the most precious thing that I will never forget, she loved education so much and even put me in Qur’anic school. I was cherished because I was her first granddaughter. She wanted me to study to become a respected woman in my village." explains Atou.

However shortly after her grandmother died there was an escalation in conflict and violence in the Lake Chad region of West Africa, and Atou’s family was forced to flee to Niger where her father was from. Only a year later, Atou was married and expecting her first child. 

Atou’s mother was concerned about the marriage, however she could do little to stop it. “I told them that she was too young to get married. I asked myself how at her age could she give birth to a child? But if I opposed the marriage, I would have lost my home.” She explains.

At the age of only 11, Atou suffered frequent attacks at the hands of her new husband. A man who was three times her age. “The first three months of the marriage were a nightmare for me. There was not enough food in the house. I slept on an empty stomach many times. As if that wasn't enough, he prevented me from going out. I suffered in silence and didn't dare tell anyone.”

Shortly after the birth of her third child, Atou’s husband divorced her. She is back living with her parents and safe from her husband but it was a challenge for the expanded family to provide enough to eat, and her children quickly became malnourished.

Through a Plan International program run in her community, Atou and her children now have access to health care, and the nutritional and psychosocial support they need.

Alongside this vital work, Plan International works around the globe to intervene and stop child marriages before they occur, expand community networks to empower girls and educate communities on the importance of girls’ education.

Thanks to this support, Atou can now start to think about the future.

“My malnourished children are better today. I would like to go to school, to study in order to support my children and provide them with a better future. If I had studied, I would not have accepted to be married without understanding what I was committing myself to. It was ignorance that led me to this state. I hope that my children will not suffer this same fate.” says Atou.

*Name changed to protect identity