International Day of
the Girl

Join us on October 10th in celebration of International Day of the Girl, and help build a future free from child marriage.

Prefer to donate early? Your donation will go towards Plan International programs that keep girls in school, provide safe spaces, and support girls to speak up for themselves.

Photo: Eunice, 18, is passionate about defending the rights of girls. © Plan International

Plan IS Day of the Girl

In 2011, Plan International successfully campaigned to the United Nations (UN) to introduce a day of action that acknowledges the unique challenges girls face, promotes girls’ rights and empowerment, and celebrates their enormous potential to catalyse change.

The UN officially declared October 11 International Day of the Girl and Plan International has led activities on this globally recognised day of action ever since.

Now, Day of the Girl is Plan International’s largest annual campaign, and our global community mobilises every year with activations and celebrations taking place across markets and communities.

This year, Australia helps Plan International say NO to child brides.

By 14, Aysha was married.

By 15, she was a mother.

Aysha’s story reflects the harsh reality faced by many girls around the world, where simply being born female can lead to a life defined by early marriage and motherhood.

Aysha’s marriage wasn’t a choice, it was a consequence of poverty. When her father fell ill, her family’s financial struggles deepened, and she was married off to a man seven years her senior in hopes of securing some stability.

Aysha was not ready for a wedding.

But Aysha’s story didn’t end there. Thanks to the Stop the Stigma programme, she gained access to contraceptives and, more importantly, the knowledge and confidence to take control of her own future.

Now, at 18, she is choosing to delay having more children. She dreams of education, independence, and a better life, not just for herself, but for the next generation.

Aysha’s courage and determination shine as a beacon of hope for girls everywhere—girls who deserve the chance to grow, learn, and thrive on their own terms.

Photo: Aysha, 18, with her four-year-old son Sakib. © Plan International

Every year, 12 million girls are forced into child marriage.

That’s one every 3 seconds.

Breaking the cycle of tradition

At 20, Aarati was forced into marriage, ending her hopes of completing her education.

Since watching her Auntie sew clothes as a child, Aarati has always tried to learn from her and became passionate about sewing. When she heard about Plan International’s three-month tailoring course, she was eager to join.

Living in a remote part of Nepal, Aarati and her husband struggled to make ends meet as he was the sole breadwinner. Through her training, she was able to master sewing techniques and eventually start her own sewing business, setting up a shop in her local market.

“Thanks to the generous support I received after my training, I was able to open my tailoring shop with essential tools and a loan, which helped me start my entrepreneurial journey.”

Now, not only can Aarati contribute financially to her family, she’s also able to pursue her dreams. Through her business, she is inspiring young women in her community, taking on apprentices and sharing her skills.

I may have married early, but now I have the responsibility to secure a better future for my family and break the cycle of tradition.

Photo: Aarati, 20, uses her sewing skills to support her family. © Plan International

The domino effect of aid cuts, the rise of conflict, humanitarian disasters and the acceleration of the climate crisis is significantly increasing the risk of child marriage.

Families facing extreme poverty, displacement, or insecurity often see early marriage as a way to protect or provide for their daughters.

These crises disrupt education and social support systems, making girls more vulnerable to forced or early marriage. Addressing these challenges is crucial to preventing child marriage and safeguarding girls’ rights.

Girls leading change

At 15, Huyen saw many of her friends leave school to get married before they were ready.

Determined to choose her own future, Huyen focused on her studies and eventually joined Plan International’s Champions of Change club at her school. The program supports youth leadership to end child, early, and forced marriage within communities.

Early marriage is a vicious cycle and education is the only way to break it.

Together with her friends, they started raising awareness within their community in creative ways – drama performances, interviews, and debates. From this, Huyen has been able to make a positive impact in her community in rural Vietnam, with girls no longer being forced to leave school early.

“For the past three years, there have been no cases of students dropping out of school to get married early in my community.”

Huyen’s story shows how, with the right support, girls are not just resisting child marriage – they’re changing the world.

Photo: Huyen, 15, is leading change in her community. © Plan International

Help us end child marriage

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A childhood cut short

At 18, Sefora was pushed into a union. With no food at home and no one to help care for her, saying yes felt like survival.

But what she didn’t realise was that this decision would cost her everything. Her freedom, her education, her dreams.

I stopped studying after sixth grade. Life as a married woman is harder than I imagined. You can’t do what you want anymore.

At 18, she gave birth to her daughter, Aritza. Her husband left the village to work and hasn’t returned.

She now raises her child alone, with little support. But through Plan International’s training sessions, Sefora is rediscovering her strength. She’s learning about her rights, birth control, and the power of education.

“I’ve learned that women have value. I want my daughter to go to school and have a different life than mine.”

Sefora still dreams of returning to school and with the right support, she will.

From child bride to changemaker: Useaking’s journey in Cox’s Bazar

By the time Useaking was 21, she was already a mother of two, her childhood dreams put on hold far too soon.

I had so many hopes for my future but those dreams were pushed aside when I was forced to marry and became pregnant shortly after.

Useaking joined a community group for young married women, run by Plan International. The group focused on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), mental health, and protection from gender-based violence. It offered her something she hadn’t had before: knowledge, support, and a safe space to speak.

“I can talk openly with my family and friends about the challenges I face.”

Empowered by what she’s learned, Useaking is now passing that knowledge on.

“I’m teaching my younger sister about SRHR, so she won’t face the same challenges I did.”

She’s not ready for a wedding.

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