The Community Level Advocacy to End Child Marriage (CLADE) project sought to contribute to the reduction in the practice of child marriage in Dattawa community, Rigasa, Kaduna State, while advocating for the promotion of girl child education as a way of delaying the age of marriage.
Through advocacy and engagement with religious leaders in Dattawa community, Active Voices ensured five (5) girls continued their education, three (3) of whom would have been married out without the intervention of the CLADE project. This feat was made possible through community sensitization and youth engagement. Selected youth were trained to champion the community-led advocacy and they were able to sensitize their peers to say NO to child marriage.
The project brought about increased recognition of the importance of education for both male and female by parents in the community which contributed to the reduction of early and forced marriages in the community. Teachers also reported an increase in the enrolment of girls at the Rigasa Community Secondary School.