A trained priest helps a family to cancel a prearranged child marriage
Early marriage remains a deeply rooted tradition in Ethiopian communities. Irrespective of the efforts of the government, the society, and the international community; the problem is still persistent throughout the country, especially in the northern part of Ethiopia. The traditional beliefs, religion, and the economic motives are recognized as the root causes of early marriage.
Mecha, 30km, south of Bahir Dar is one of the Amhara Regional state district with rampant early marriage practice. According to Mr. Assefa Garedew, the Mecha District mothers and youth officer, every year a minimum of 150 early marriages cases reported.
Excessive workload on women, problem of inadequate nutrition, partner violence, lack of birth spacing knowledge, and other that cause preterm birth were widely practiced. In response to this challenges, World Vision Ethiopia through the fund secured from Global Affairs Canada and Johnson & Johnson trained 42 religious leaders and health staff and in turn the trained religious leaders trained 1,664 other religious leaders and influential people.
Priest Antenw Chekle, was one of the priests that took the training. He created awareness on the causes of preterm to a number of community members at church at the end of the sermon. He says, “The community has full faith on church leaders. When I teach them the link factor of preterm in Biblical context, they received me wholeheartedly. When they see/hear others practicing early marriage secretly, they come and tell me.”
Tagegn Kassahun, was to marry off her 13 years old daughter secretly. On the day of marriage signing ceremony Priest Antenew visited Tagegn house. He says, “I am Tagegn’s father confessor. On the day of the signing ceremony, I unexpectedly joined the gathering and politely told the elders and the couples’ parents that what they were doing was unacceptable both Biblically and legally given the age of children. I told them the negative impact of the early marriage one by one and denounced the marriage ceremony as their Father confessor. After couple of hot argument, the elders sent from the boy’s side left the girl’s house and the marriage arrangement was cancelled.”
Tagegn is now thankful to priest Antenew and regret for what she has done on her little girl. She says, “I was angry with priest Antenew for cancelling and disturbing the marriage ceremony on that day. But now after taking the training on the negative impact of early marriage on my daughter future life, I came to regret. Now I am not only opposing early marriage, I will denounce people who practice child marriage.”
Tiruedil Simeneh, 13, in grade 4, is the daughter of Tagegn who was to marry off. She knew the issue of marriage on the marriage day. She says, “When I saw elders visiting our home, I asked my parent why all these people gathered. They told me that I was to marry off. I cried and cried the whole day and passed the entire day without eating. I continued crying for week even after the marriage was cancelled.”
"I am now attending school without any fear of early marriage thanks to our priest,"says Tirued
Tiruedil is now emancipated from early marriage that would have devastated her entire life time. She says, “Thanks to priest Antenew, I am free now. The priest Antenew has thought me what to do when I see or hear early child marriage. If I see or hear someone is to marry off his girl, I will without any mercy bring the case to the priest so that the wrong doers will be taken to the court.”
Story by: Aklilu Kassaye