At 21 years old, Ayun is studying to take her university semester exams while also preparing to graduate from the Compassion program next year. She has achieved so much in such a short time, but it wasn’t without struggle. Ayun was once a young girl who faced the frightening risk of becoming a child bride.
Children Around the World Are at Risk of Child Marriage
According to UNICEF, one in three young women in West and Central Africa are married before age 18. And in South Asia, one in four women are married before their 18th birthday.
The total number of girls married in childhood is around 12 million per year worldwide.
Child marriage robs girls of brighter futures by keeping them out of school and limiting their opportunities for careers as adults. It also places these girls at risk of domestic violence and early pregnancy, which hinder healthy development.
Poverty adds another layer of complexity and desperation. Girls living in poverty may feel that marriage is the only way to gain financial security. And their families may feel the need to force girls into marriage to reduce their own financial burdens.
Ayun knows the above risks better than anyone as she has lived them. But she has also experienced hope through the love and care of those at her local Compassion center.
The Promise of a New Life
As a young child, Ayun and her mother left their small Indonesian village and moved to Bali in search of better life opportunities. Ayun’s mother and father were in the process of separation.
Once in Bali, Ayun met Erlik, the center director for the local Compassion center, an encounter that would change Ayun’s life.
Born in a small regional community, Ayun never received a birth certificate. Since Indonesia’s education system requires one, Ayun couldn’t enroll in school in Bali.
But after she registered Ayun in the Compassion program, Erlik was able to complete the paperwork to enroll Ayun in school. Ayun soon settled into her studies with the promise of a new life.
Child Marriage: An Unexpected Danger
One day, Ayun’s parents reached out to her. They told her they were reconciling and wanted her to move back to the village. Confused but happy, Ayun did just that.
When she arrived, Ayun’s heart was shattered. She discovered that her parents had not reconciled but had tricked her into moving back home, where they had arranged a marriage for her.
At just 12 years old, Ayun was faced with questions no child should have to ask. What would happen to her schooling? Would she ever get to finish her studies? What about her dreams of a career? What about her?
Ayun’s father remarried, and her stepmother was cruel. She often physically harmed Ayun in an effort to force her to marry a stranger. Desperate, Ayun reached out to Erlik.
“Ayun cried heavily for help, so I decided to pick her up.” — Erlik, Compassion center director
A Caring Center Director Stands in the Gap
Ayun’s parents resisted Erlik’s assistance, and the center director’s first attempt to bring Ayun back to Bali failed. But another family member helped Ayun escape, and soon she was safe in Bali with Erlik.
“In my heart, I believed this child deserved the opportunity to live a better life. I simply believed that.” — Erlik, Compassion center director
Ayun moved in with Erlik, who considered the young girl to be her own daughter. Erlik provided for Ayun’s needs, just like she did for her other children.
“Whenever people ask about my children, I always say that Ayun is my third child because originally, I just had two.” — Erlik
Ayun Finds a Greater Purpose
Finding new hope in the love and care of Erlik, Ayun completely disconnected from her parents, who stayed in the village. But Ayun struggled to put the experience behind her.
“I had the fear that one day my parents would show up in front of the doors and take me away for whatever reason. I struggled with the trauma.” — Ayun
Growing up in a non-Christian community, Ayun was unfamiliar with Jesus and his love. This lack of knowledge of Jesus, and her childhood trauma, left Ayun with deep wounds and a hatred for his followers.
“Ayun used to despise Christians and had difficulties opening her heart. Eventually, she was the one who decided to follow Christ.” — Erlik
The love she had received from Erlik and those at her Compassion center began to seep into Ayun’s heart. As it softened, she found a new love for Jesus, the one who had given her a family and a brighter future. Now, she has found a greater purpose by loving and serving him.
“Because of people at the Compassion center, I was showered with the words of God. I learned there is a God who offers the grace of salvation. Now I have accepted and dearly love Jesus.” — Ayun
With newfound hope, Ayun diligently continued her studies. And now, she is studying biology at university, her tuition fully funded by a scholarship.
Ayun is active on the school’s student council and competes in science competitions. She recently won a silver medal, which she calls one of her greatest achievements. Ayun looks forward to a career in biology.
With the love of Jesus in her heart and the care of her community surrounding her, Ayun believes she can achieve anything. While she will surely face other battles in her life, Ayun knows she has the strength and support to conquer them.
How to Stand Up for a Child Needing Rescue
Like Erlik did for Ayun, you can stand in the gap for a child in desperate need of protection. By becoming a sponsor, you help a local church offer a child the care they need, from the hope of the gospel and medical care to nutrition support and education.
Child sponsorship helps reduce the financial burden on families suffering in poverty while giving girls the gift of opportunity. And all of this helps protect a young girl from child marriage.
Today, you can help a child just like Ayun see beyond their current circumstances and into greater purpose. Stand up for a child and become a sponsor today.
