The children here are the “lucky” ones

SAFE!

This should not still be happening in 2025.

The children here are the “lucky” ones.

Yesterday, we met with each of the students that our amazing supporters sponsor at this school, and without mentioning names, I feel compelled to relay what happened.

When we asked this girl, who is approximately 12 years old, what the best thing about being at this school is? We expected a reply referring to her favourite subject, her friends, or the extracurricular activities, but no.

Her response was I feel SAFE! We felt so many emotions at that stage, and whilst I am so happy that is how she feels, it’s also incredibly sad too.

The back story is that two years ago, her father announced that he had sold her into marriage in return for money in the form of cows.

Her mother did an amazing thing at huge risk to herself (and I do not currently know what happened to her, but I can imagine base on experience) and took her in the night to one of our safe houses from which the person who assists took her against great personal risk to someone who could transport her to long term safety.

She was 10 or 11 at the time.

If her mother had not acted, those who removed her acted, and Merrow Christian School had not taken her in, she would now be married and a mother herself.

Thanks to one of our amazing sponsors, she has been able to remain at school, is SAFE, and has a childhood back first and foremost, secondly, a fantastic education that will allow her to make choices about her future.

We can only imagine the trauma she has suffered.

CTE working with those who run the safe houses, plus the Directors and Staff at Merrow Christian School, can only save these girls and change their lives (and those of their Children) because you believe in what we do and so generously support us.

When I think of how much change we have helped achieve and how many lives we have saved and changed in what will be 20 years next year, it’s difficult to comprehend.

Your belief and trust in us, plus your support, has made this happen.

THANK YOU.