Amma

 The Southeast Asia country where we work is home to the largest number of child brides in the world, accounting for roughly one-third of the global total. Estimates from UNICEF indicate that at least 1.5 million underage girls get married each year. It's important to note that these are estimates, and there are challenges in accurately collecting data on child marriage as many are not reported. Many organizations today are working to address the issue through various programs and interventions. Rahab’s Rope is one of those organizations. Some of the programs we provide are education and life skills for girls. We work with their families to educate them on the harm and outcomes of child brides. We work with families and communities to change social norms and attitudes towards child marriage. We provide various support services and counseling to girls and their families. 

Today’s story is about one of those girls, we will call her Amma. When Amma was a little girl, she was given to a man as a child bride. We are not sure how old she was, but she knows she was less than ten years old. The man immediately brought her to a brothel and began selling her as a sex worker. Amma has lived in this same brothel for over sixty years without any hope of leaving. When we met Amma she was working as the house mother for other girls that were brought to this place for the same reason. We can’t imagine the horrors of being a little girl being brought to a field to live in a shanty and sold over and over again, with no hope of ever leaving. Amma passed away shortly after we met her. The thought of this true scenario and the thousands of girls it happens to can be overwhelming. But God! The knowledge that God is with you and me in this fight, and together we can make a difference in the lives of those we reach gives us the reason and the encouragement to continue this journey. We can make a difference! Thank you for joining hands with us and encouraging us. We thank God for you and pray for you. 

Blessings,

Vicki