Girls should be enjoying childhood, not becoming brides.

Your voice can make a difference in places where families are running out of options. [A member of the World Vision's Girl Power looks at the camera.]( Dear {NAME}, At World Vision, we believe that all children are made in God’s image and deserve opportunities to thrive! Yet each year, 12 million girls are married before the age of 18. That’s 22 girls every minute whose childhoods are cut short. And so are their dreams: Child marriage significantly impacts girls’ education and opportunities, often forcing them to drop out of school to focus on domestic responsibilities or raise children of their own. Will you speak up for girls facing child marriage today? It takes less than a minute to send a pre-filled email to your members of Congress. [HELP END CHILD MARRIAGE]( Farina was only 17 years old when her much older neighbor began harassing her to marry him. Although the legal age for marriage in India is 18, cultural practices or poverty can lead to girls being married younger without consequence. Thankfully, “World Vision Girl Power Groups” stepped in: groups of local adolescent girls who are trained to report instances of child marriage to authorities, provide ongoing supportfor at-risk girls and their families, and tackle harmful cultural norms in their villages. The girls in Farina’s local Girl Power Group – with training and support from World Vision staff and volunteers – stepped in to report Farina’s experience to the police. Together, they have stopped four child marriages, addressed sexual harassment, and intervened in a case of child trafficking in their village! Efforts to fight child marriage are possible because the United States sets aside a budget specifically aimed at combatting the root causes of child marriage – and YOUR voice can play a role in keeping that funding in place! This budget makes it possible for us to work with communities where child marriage is common, helping ensure children can enjoy childhood, complete their education, and determine the outcome of their own lives. [CONTACT CONGRESS NOW]( Thank you for all you do to empower children and live into God’s call to “speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:9, NIV). Through advocacy, you can multiply the impact of the work we’re doing together around the world! Gratefully, The World Vision Advocacy team Make lasting change: [DONATE TODAY]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [World Vision Youtube Channel]( [Instagram]( --------------------------------------------------------------- World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. [Read more about our work.]( World Vision, P.O. Box 9716, Federal Way, WA 98063 1.888.511.6514 [Privacy Policy]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [Sign In]( | Campaign = 400074875 | Donor No. = 106150834 Having trouble viewing this email? [View it online](.