In Mozambique’s Lugela District, a teenage couple faced the prospect of early marriage due to an unplanned pregnancy, which would also have meant the end of their schooling. Thanks to swift intervention by local authorities, educators, and youth advocates from the Kuyenda Collective supported by Education Out Loud, they were given a second chance.
The names of children mentioned in this blog have been changed to protect their identities.
In the rural heart of Lugela District, nestled in Mozambique’s Zambezia Province, two teenagers faced a crossroads that would shape their futures.
At just 15 years old, Maria and her boyfriend, Carlos, were confronted with the harsh reality of an early marriage, prompted by an unplanned pregnancy. In many parts of the region, this could have been the end of their educational journey.
“Teenagers who find themselves in such situations are often forced to leave school, their futures determined by cultural pressures.”
However, this story took a different turn when the boy’s father, eager to see if there was another solution, reported the case to the local community leader, which led to an intervention that saved both teenagers from a life they weren’t ready for.
Initially, the teenagers’ families saw marriage as the only way forward. However, through discussions with the local Gender Focal Point within the District Department of Education, the management of Alto Lugela General Secondary School and representatives of CESC, a rural youth collective member of the Education Out Loud supported Kuyenda Collective Project, they were sensitized on children’s rights and the importance of education.
Gradually, both families came to understand that marriage was not the solution.
Combating child marriages and early dropouts is one of the ways the project partners advocate for access to quality education for all.
When presented with this case, they set in motion a collaborative effort to prevent the marriage and ensure the teenagers could stay in school and continue their journey for a better future.
“A lot of people have come together to give the young couple this opportunity to stay in school and pursue their dreams. The school principal will take an inclusive approach to ensure that Maria is welcomed in class throughout her pregnancy and after the baby is born, thus embodying values and attitudes that allow pregnant students to continue with their studies. Maria’s parents will tend to the baby and Carlos’s parents will support them financially, even though it is very unusual in cases where the young couple does not marry,” says Cristiano Munguambe.
Thanks to this collective approach, the planned marriage was canceled.
“I feel relieved and happy. I am now about to conclude my high school education, and I hope I can apply to a university.”
In Mozambique, teenage pregnancies are a significant driver of high school dropouts.
According to recent reports, the country has one of the highest dropout rates in the region, with 38% of girls aged 15-19 becoming pregnant.
In many cases, pregnancy leads to early marriage, and girls are often forced to leave school and become wives and mothers, sometimes before they are even ready.
While boys may continue their education after becoming fathers, girls’ opportunities are severely limited, as many schools expel pregnant students or pressure them to drop out.
For the Kuyenda Collective, the role of community action in the protection of children's rights, including the right to education, is paramount. This case from Lugela is a clear example of how effective advocacy, rooted in community action, can protect the right to education.
By acting quickly and collaboratively, local authorities, the school, and the youth collective helped prevent an early marriage and gave Maria and Carlos the chance to continue their studies.
The Kuyenda Collective works to ensure that the right to education is not just a principle on paper, but a lived reality, especially for rural youth.
Through awareness-raising, capacity building, and strategic partnerships at all levels, they strive to dismantle socio-cultural barriers like child marriage and support schools and communities to create inclusive and safe learning environments for every child.
Forced marriage is a significant issue in Mozambique, particularly in regions where cultural and socioeconomic norms contribute to its persistence. According to data from UNICEF and the National Institute of Statistics of Mozambique:
The Mozambican government has adopted policies to combat child- and forced marriage, but traditional practices remain deeply entrenched in many communities.
Youth rural advocates of the Kuyenda Collective and many other community members are working to raise awareness about girls' rights and the importance of education as a tool to prevent such marriages.
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