30/09/2026
PROJECT REPORT
Project Title: "Strengthening Community Mothers’ Leadership to Prevent Child Marriage and Protect the Rights of Girls"
Organized by: Nari Unnayan Shakti (NUS) and Young Women for Development Rights and Climate (YWDRC)
Supported by: Forum for Culture and Human Development (FCHD) and Global Workforce Services
Date: 28–29 September 2026
Venue: Nari Unnayan Shakti Training Centre, Rampura, Dhaka
Participants: The two-day training programme was attended by 20 disadvantaged mothers from the Khilgaon area of Dhaka.
Training Facilitators:
The training sessions were facilitated by:
- Dr. Afroja Pravin, Executive Director, Nari Unnayan Shakti (NUS)
- Nusrat Sultana Afroj, Executive Chairperson, Young Women for Development Rights and Climate (YWDRC)
- Mr. Abdul Momin, Executive Member, Forum for Culture and Human Development (FCHD)
- Ms. Selina Khatun, Official, Global Work for Services
The facilitators led interactive sessions, discussions and learning activities on child marriage prevention, girls’ rights, continuation of girls’ education, family engagement and community-level leadership.
Objective:
The primary objective of the training was to enhance community mothers’ knowledge and understanding of the causes, risk factors and harmful consequences of child marriage, while strengthening their leadership and capacity to take meaningful action to protect girls’ rights.
The training also aimed to strengthen mothers’ capacity to identify girls at risk of child marriage, support girls to continue their education, engage families in prevention efforts, and promote coordinated action at the community level.
Activities:
The two-day training included participatory discussions, experience-sharing and practical learning activities focusing on:
- Understanding the causes, risk factors and harmful consequences of child marriage;
- Promoting awareness of girls’ rights, protection and safety;
- Identifying girls at risk of child marriage;
- Strengthening the role of families in ensuring girls’ continued education;
- Developing effective communication with parents and family members;
- Enhancing mothers’ leadership in raising awareness within families and communities;
- Strengthening community-level leadership and collective action;
- Connecting vulnerable girls and families with relevant government services and support mechanisms;
- Promoting coordinated action among families, community leaders, educational institutions, government agencies, NGOs and community-based organizations.
Output:
A total of 20 disadvantaged mothers enhanced their knowledge and practical understanding of child marriage prevention, girls’ rights, girls’ education, family engagement and community awareness.
Participants gained greater understanding of how to identify girls at risk, engage families in preventive action, raise awareness within their communities, and connect vulnerable girls and families with relevant support services when required.
Outcome:
The training strengthened participants’ willingness and commitment to take an active role in preventing child marriage within their families and communities. The participating mothers expressed their readiness to raise awareness, identify girls at risk, encourage families to support girls’ continued education, and engage relevant stakeholders when intervention or support is required.
Participants also recognized that effective prevention of child marriage requires more than law enforcement alone. They emphasized the importance of coordinated engagement among families, communities, local leaders, educational institutions, government agencies, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders in creating a safe and protective environment for girls.
Conclusion:
Child marriage can have serious and long-term implications for girls’ education, health, safety, rights and future opportunities. Strengthening the capacity and leadership of families and communities is therefore essential to effective prevention.
The two-day training provided an important platform for strengthening community mothers’ awareness, leadership and capacity to contribute to preventing child marriage and protecting girls’ rights. The active participation of mothers demonstrated the importance of placing families and communities at the centre of preventive action.
Nari Unnayan Shakti (NUS) and Young Women for Development Rights and Climate (YWDRC) reaffirm their commitment to working in partnership with government institutions, NGOs, civil society, local leaders, families and communities to prevent child marriage, promote girls’ education, protect girls’ rights and strengthen women’s leadership at the grassroots level.
‘শিশুবিবাহ প্রতিরোধ ও কন্যাশিশুর অধিকার সুরক্ষায় কমিউনিটি মায়েদের নেতৃত্ব শক্তিশালীকরণ’ শীর্ষক দুই দিনব্যাপী...
