We Are the Change: Young Rohingya Refugees Speak Against Child Marriage

“I want to use what I’ve learned here to help others. I don’t want to waste my time—I want to lead sessions and tell girls they have a choice.” — Sarifa, 12, Rohingya refugee and youth champion

Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, August 2025 – In the heart of the world’s largest refugee settlement, young Rohingya girls and boys are becoming powerful voices for change, challenging harmful practices like child marriage and shaping a future they dream of. 

Adolescents and youth make up over one-third of the Rohingya refugee population in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char. Displacement, poverty, and limited access to education or livelihood opportunities expose them—especially girls—to increased protection risks, including early marriage. With nearly 90% of youth out of school or training, and more than 80% lacking access to life skills, their aspirations often remain out of reach.

Through UNFPA-supported programmes like Girls Shine and Champions of Change, implemented by partners Plan International, Mukti and Prottyashi, young people are designing their future. UNFPA currently supports eight youth centres across the refugee camps, providing safe spaces where young people can access learning sessions, psychosocial support, and life skills. These centres are made possible through a partnership with the Government of Switzerland, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Government of Australia, and other donors.

At a Youth centre buzzing with energy, Sarifa, 12, confidently explains the risks of child marriage. "When young girls are married, they lose their health, their education—everything. I want to stop that. I want to help my peers do the same," she says.

Usmaida, 11, dreams of becoming a doctor. "I tell my mother and friends what I learned here. When I feel sad, I come to the centre, look in the mirror and tell myself: I am strong, I am resilient."

Yasmin, 19, a young mother of a 15-month-old daughter, attends sessions on menstrual hygiene and well-being.
"It was taboo to talk about menstruation before. But here, we learn, we ask, we share. When I’m stressed, I call the helpline or speak to a counsellor. I feel heard."

With accessible visuals and interactive tools, these centres are also closing the gap in basic education and health literacy for youth who missed years of learning. Sessions are held three times a week, building skills in communication, problem-solving, and emotional resilience.

Alkama, 12, who recently joined Girl Shine, learned about child marriage and GBV prevention through a role play. She can now distinguish between good and bad touch thanks to participation at the conducive community session.

"Now we know that girls shouldn't marry before 18, and boys before 21. It’s harmful for the girl—and for the baby if she gives birth too early."

The ripple effects reach families and communities. Caregivers attend parallel sessions that address social norms, health, safety, and parenting. Boys and young men, often excluded from such dialogues, now join Champions of Change to explore power, anger, empathy, and non-violence.

Mobbasara, 11, sends a message to the world. "Stop violence against us. Girls deserve safety, education, and respect."

The sessions are facilitated by dedicated staff like Mukta Rani Debi, Community Mobilization Officer, who works daily with youth champions to build their leadership skills and confidence.

“Many girls in the camp still face deep-rooted restrictions and they are not allowed to move freely, speak up, or even attend our sessions,” says Mukta. “That’s why we organize regular outreach visits and mothers’ meetings—to bring information directly to their homes. With the help of young peer leaders, we talk about early marriage, health, and the right to learning. My dream is that these girls grow up confident, educated, and able to decide their own future,” she said.

The impact is tangible. In the second quarter of 2025 alone, over 111,000 visits were recorded at UNFPA-supported adolescent- and youth-responsive spaces, where young people and their caregivers accessed information, psychosocial support, and life skills.

Suma Barua, Child Marriage Technical Officer, who represented Bangladeshi youth at the ICPD anniversary last year, explained:

"This centre has been operating since 2018. We’re not just telling youth what not to do—we’re showing them what’s possible. They’re building a library, starting gardens, designing their own solutions. This is their space."

Instead of warning about the dangers of child marriage, facilitators focus on the benefits of delaying it: more time to learn, earn, and grow into empowered adults who can care for their families and communities.

In these safe spaces, girls are learning to stitch, sew, and speak up. Boys are learning to listen. And together, they are shifting the narrative from helplessness to empowerment and hope.

On this International Youth Day, UNFPA celebrates the determination of Rohingya adolescents who are standing tall, refusing to be defined by crisis, and building a future where every girl can shine, and every boy can be a champion.