Karonga, MALAWI - At just 13, Linda’s* childhood was abruptly interrupted. She dropped out of school and eloped with her 20-year-old boyfriend, a man admired in their village for his small but thriving business. In a community marked by poverty, his financial stability granted him influence—and Linda became one of its casualties.

“My family is very poor,” Linda recalls from Mwenelupembe village in Karonga. “When he approached me, promising to help, I felt I had no choice but to accept his love proposal.”

Their marriage was a secret, sealed by their relocation to a distant village near the Tanzanian border. The new environment offered them anonymity and freedom from interference.

“I wasn’t ready for marriage,” reflects Linda, now 15. “But he told me that if I refused, he’d marry someone else. He had many admirers, and I was scared of losing his support.”

For a brief moment, it seemed Linda’s decision had paid off. Their love flourished in the early days of marriage.

“Those first days were bliss,” Linda says. “He was caring, and I started to believe I’d made the right decision.”

But her parents and community thought otherwise. They had witnessed the devastating impact of child marriages and were determined to intervene. With the help of community leaders, the local Mother’s Group, the Women’s Forum, and community police, a search began to bring Linda back.

A Community United Against Child Marriage

Mwenelupembe, like many border communities in Malawi, faces significant challenges with child marriage and teenage pregnancies. The allure of fast money from cross-border trade often traps young girls in cycles of exploitation.

“Young girls are drawn to the promise of money, but they end up in early marriages or pregnancies,” says Moshi Fundi, a member of the Mwenelupembe Women’s Forum. “Many believe life across the border will be better, but the reality is often harsh.”

Thanks to the UNFPA-supported Peacebuilding Project funded by the UN Secretary General Fund, dormant community structures like the Women’s Forum, Police Forum, and Mother’s Group have been revitalized. Capacity-building initiatives have empowered these groups to tackle pressing issues effectively. In 2024 alone, they dissolved 39 child marriages across two Traditional Authorities. Now, Linda’s case was their next mission.

“Before the training, we weren’t as active,” recalls Ms. Fundi. “It wasn’t that the problems didn’t exist—we simply didn’t know how to address them.”

Linda’s Turning Point

While the community searched for her, Linda’s marriage began to unravel. Her husband grew distant, neglecting her basic needs.

Linda explains:

He started leaving me without food. I had no one to turn to. My village was far, and even if it weren’t, I was too ashamed to face my parents.

The search team eventually found Linda, who was more than ready to leave the hardship behind. But returning home came with its challenges.

“I was happy to go back to school, but I feared my friends would mock me for my mistakes,” Linda shares.

Her fears materialized as classmates shunned her, seeing her as a bad influence. Yet, with the unwavering support of the Mother’s Group, Linda persevered. The group advocated for her at school, educating her peers on the importance of welcoming and supporting girls returning to education. Slowly, attitudes shifted, and Linda was accepted again.

A New Chapter

Today, Linda is in Form Three, just one year away from completing secondary school. Her dream is to become a soldier—a goal she is determined to achieve despite ongoing financial struggles.

“I’ve been married before, and I know the hardships that come with it,” she says with resolve. “Now, nothing will stop me. My only wish is for support with school fees so I can keep pursuing my education.”

*Name changed for privacy

By Joseph Scott, Communications Analyst