Child, not bride (Bangladesh, 2023)

​

Child, not bride explores the reasons and consequences behind child marriage in Bangladesh. By producing a series of short stories about girls, we showcased their challenges and personal journeys. Poverty, the lack of economic opportunities, and climate change force many families to marry off their daughters. Bangladesh is one of the world's most densely populated countries, counting 170 million people. Most of the population lives in rural areas. The country is low-lying and completely flat. In the south many houses are torn away by cyclones, while in the north floods and erosion are the main problem. A village can disappear in just a few days. The authorities have developed programs to encourage people to stay in the countryside, but many end up migrating to the cities to find better jobs. 

I filmed and documented a glimpse of their life. I had the opportunity to speak with girls that are brave enough to share their story and that mobilise their own community in order to change their future. This is a series about girls, not brides.