Daughters’ Letter Is Helping Challenge Child Marriage in Nepal

Speaking up to our parents can be difficult at any stage of life. In Nepal, where honouring parents is deeply valued, that courage can be even harder to find for teenage girls.

Sometimes that conversation will shape the future.

This age of ours is meant for playing, learning, laughing, and building the foundation of our future, not for marriage.

A daughter’s brave letter to her parents

Schoolgirls in rural Nepal recently prepared a letter, printed it on a banner and publicly signed it as a demonstration against child marriage, and a commitment to their education. Then, using this collective letter as a basis, each girl wrote her own personal letter which they delivered to their parents.

In the letter to her mum and dad, one girl writes with gratitude and courage, asking for their support to continue her education instead of marrying early. She explains that she doesn’t want to marry before she turns 20 and shares what the harms of early marriage are for her. She wants to build a hopeful future and make them proud.

Read the translated letter here.

Child marriage^* remains a serious issue in many villages across Nepal, with long-term consequences for girls’ education, wellbeing, and family livelihoods. In most cases, girls are pressured to marry as teenagers, often to someone chosen by their parents.

In Nepal around 1.3 million women alive today were married before they were 15 years old. While progress has been made, the child marriage is still common in rural areas, where one in three girls are married before the age of 18, even though the legal age for marriage has been raised to 20.

Early marriage can increase vulnerability to human trafficking, as girls who leave school young often have fewer employment options. 

Rural schoolgirls are leading a new community initiative to challenge early and forced marriage in Nepal. The effort is supported by Tearfund’s local partner, Share and Care Nepal.

According to Share and Care Nepal, many parents were deeply moved. Importantly, this began conversations that otherwise may never have taken place, especially in contexts where girls often have little voice in decisions about marriage.

There has also been a recent practical incentive introduced by the local government. A rural Nepali municipality has introduced a scheme to deposit NPR 20,000 (NZD ±250) at the birth of every girl child. The amount can be withdrawn when she turns 20 and completes her schooling. With accumulated interest, the fund could exceed NPR 300,000 (±NZD 3,700) by that time. This initiative has strong potential to reduce pressure for child marriage, prevent school dropout, and gradually shift attitudes in a context where male-child preference remains common.

"This initiative has strong potential to reduce pressure on girls for child marriage,” explains Jeevan Karki, Tearfund’s Nepal programme specialist. “It can help prevent school dropouts and gradually shift community attitudes, where male-child preference remains common."

Learn how Tearfund and our partner, Share and Care, are helping protect girls from forced marriage and human trafficking in Nepal.

*In Nepal, child marriage is defined as any marriage where one or both partners are under the legal age of 20. Internationally, the definition is usually 18 years.

Letter Copy

Namaste [respectful greetings] Dad and Mum,

I am your child, the one who grew up smiling in your arms, who is moving forward carrying your dreams, and who is searching for her future path under your love and blessings. Today, I wish to share something deeply important from my heart with you.

I have seen how much you have struggled for our every happiness. From the first light of morning to the last breath at night, you have kept nothing for yourselves. Because of your sacrifice, love, and dedication, I stand here today, hopeful to become something meaningful, confident that I can achieve something in life.

I am beginning to understand what life truly is, what dreams mean, and the value of my own existence. This age of ours is meant for playing, learning, laughing, and building the foundation of our future, not for marriage. Child marriage tears apart those dreams, leaves the future incomplete, and weakens the spirit.

I want to choose a path of building my life through education, not marriage. I want you to allow me to study, to understand the world, and to learn even from my mistakes. With your support, love, and blessings, I will bring a day that shines pride on your face.

The “Commitment Program Against Child Marriage” conducted at our school by Share and Care Nepal opened my eyes to awareness. This campaign taught me that our future is in our hands and that we have the power to make decisions. Therefore, we pledge: “We will not engage in child marriage, nor will we allow it.”

Your trust is my greatest motivation. Please allow me to study and support me in fulfilling my dream. I will not break your hopes; I will make your name shine brightly.

Your daughter...

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