Defying early marriage to lead her community
Living with farmer parents, Kann, a 24-year-old Lao minority girl in Stung Treng province, used to dream of completing her bachelor's degree and securing a job before marrying at 27. Has she achieved her dream?
As a child, Kann often thought about her future. She wanted to go to university, get a degree and find a good job before getting married. But the reality of growing up as a girl in a rural farming community in Cambodia meant she faced many obstacles to achieving her dreams, not least her parents’ desire to marry her off early.
“I was speechless and disappointed when my mother suggested marriage. I argued with her, explaining that I wanted to pursue higher education and get a decent job in the future. I wasn’t even thinking about marriage now,” explains Kann.
“I tell the young people that they should develop themselves, take care of their health and find a job before they think about getting married.”
Kann
Her mother did not give in and continued to try to persuade her daughter to marry, believing that she would have a better life if she did. Every day Kann had to explain to her mother and other family members the possible consequences of early marriage. Eventually, they realised Kann’s determination and stopped discussing the issue with her.
Kann’s volunteer work
Kann joined a children’s club set up by Plan International in her community in Stung Treng province to develop an understanding of child marriage and its harmful effects after. “I like social work and sharing my knowledge with other children and young people, so I decided to join the children’s club,” she recalls.
Through the children’s club, Kann attended a number of training sessions on topics such as Cambodian history, child marriage and gender-based violence. “I never missed a meeting. I was happy to participate because it gave me knowledge and skills for my future,” she says.
Prevent and reduce child early and forced marriage
As her confidence grew, Kann joined the Commune Committee for Women and Children (CCWC) in her village, which teaches teenagers and young adults about children’s rights, child marriage, and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
“During the awareness sessions, I always tell them that we need to develop ourselves and our health before we decide to get married,” Kann says of her work with the committee. “Three out of 10 young women regret marrying at a young age, so I am proud to be able to help reduce early marriage in my community.”
Delighted to get the role, Kann now facilitates training sessions for children who have dropped out of school at the Stung Treng Provincial Vocational Training Centre. “I tell the young people that they should develop themselves, take care of their health and find a job before they think about getting married.”
When asked about her own plans for the future, Kann is determined to complete her studies before considering marriage. “I want to get married at the age of 27 as I will be more mature and financially stable by then.”
For now, Kann is continuing her advocacy work with the commune committee. “I am still actively involved, contributing ideas and sharing opinions at the monthly CCWC meetings. The members elected me as their leader and I was very happy,” she says. “I want to become the commune chief in the future so that I can do more to end child marriage and gender-based violence.”
Plan International Cambodia’s intervention
In 2023, Kann applied for a position with one of Plan International’s working partners, the Khmer Youth Association, based in Stung Treng province, to work on the Time to Act project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, which aims to reduce child, early and forced marriages and unions, as well as teenage pregnancy in disadvantaged and remote areas of north-eastern Cambodia.
Categories: Protection from violence, Sexual and reproductive health and rights, Youth empowerment
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