Through Their Eyes

Hope and Opportunity

The TESFA Program, which is implemented by CARE Ethiopia and evaluated by ICRW, reaches out to married, divorced or widowed girls between the ages of 14 and 19. Widespread in many developing countries, child brides number more than 60 million worldwide. Outside Debre Tabor, November 2010

Friends

Young married girls often are pulled out of school to get married, depriving them of an education and meaningful work. Many also face health risks associated with early sexual activity and childbearing. Program participants will learn important life skills and, as leaders of girls groups in their communities, share what they learn with others. Outside Debre Tabor, November 2010

Hilltop Gathering

Community volunteers and leaders of girls groups meet in a grove of trees near Debre Tabor, Ethiopia. This area of Ethiopia, known as the Amhara region, has one of the highest rates of child marriage in the world. Outside Debre Tabor, November 2010

Strengthening Community

The volunteers -meet monthly to learn about topics related to preventing child marriage and keeping girls healthy. They then pass on the lessons they learn to others in the community. Outside Debre Tabor, November 2010

Encouraging Words

A representative from CARE Ethiopia, ICRW's partner on the project, talks with the young brides, many of them mothers. He encourages them to participate fully, express their opinions and share what they learn with others in their community. Outside Debre Tabor, November 2010

Community Leaders

As part of the program, community volunteers were elected by their peers to participate in the program. One of the most successful aspects of the program is how it engages a diverse group of people, including women, men, religious leaders, community leaders and teachers. Each group works with project staff and a local health worker. Outside Debre Tabor, November 2010

Tiny Hands

A baby's hand peeks out from a mother's waist as she begins to breast feed. Outside Debre Tabor, November 2010

Hidden

Babies are often carried on their mothers back. Outside Debre Tabor, November 2010

Too Young to Wed

These young women were selected to be leaders in their groups. Every other week they share lessons on various topics such as financial management, communication skills, or sexual and reproductive health topics with group members. Outside Debre Tabor, November 2010

Where do I look through?

A young married girl is learning how to use a camera. Photovoice Project, April 2013

Wonder

Young married girls are learning how to use a camera while their program leaders assist them. Photovoice Project, April 2013

"Oh I See"

A program facilitator is showing a young married girl how to use her camera. Photovoice Project, April 2013

Peaking In

Community members look through the window as young married girls learn about the Photo Voice project they are about to participate in. Photovoice Project, April 2013

Color Coded

To overcome the language barrier, different colored nail polish was used to paint key functions on each of the donated cameras. Photovoice Project, April 2013

Practicing

A young married girl is practicing using her camera. The project was made possible through generous donations of used cameras, batteries and memory cards. Photovoice Project, April 2013

A simple joy

A photo voice participant smiles for the camera. Photovoice Project, April 2013

We are like sisters

These program participants have spent over a year together as group members participating in CARE Ethiopia's TESFA Project. The project is designed to provide economic empowerment and sexual and reproductive health information to young married girls in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Photovoice Project, April 2013

Totally New

This is the first time each of these girls had ever used a camera, however they learned quickly. Photovoice Project, April 2013

Still Learning

A staff member is providing a refresher on how to use the camera after she has had some practice earlier in the week. Photovoice Project, April 2013

Selecting Their Best Shots

These young girls are working with a program staff member to select their mist important photographs from the project. Photovoice Project, April 2013

In Her Vision

One of the participants is explaining meaning behind the photograph she took. One reason photo voice is so powerful is that it provides a platform for participants to communicate the aspects of their lives or stories that they feel are most important. Photovoice Project, April 2013

The Participants

These girls (ages 14-19) were the proud participants of a photo voice project that showcases their lives as young married girls. Photovoice Project, April 2013