Girl child education

Today was the most dreaded day for Ria. She had prayed and hoped that this day would never come but here it was staring at her. Today the dreaded village drunkard would be coming to take her hand in marriage. She had kicked vehemently against this marriage but her authoritarian father had the final say. She wanted to further her education, become successful and maybe contribute to the well being of the family before she contemplates the idea of marriage. She was too young to get married. She remembered her father's words after she had persuaded him to let her further her studies before marriage. He had said to her, "Rita my child, this is for your own good. Who do you think will marry an educated woman. A woman's world should be in her husband's home as cook. It is right that you end up in the kitchen and I'll see to it that it happens". She had begged and pleaded with him to change his mind but he refused.

Her mother had also wanted her to go to school. She did not want her daughter to suffer what she herself had suffered as an illiterate. She had saved a lot of money from her little business of selling fries in the local market. She had planned to use the money in educating her only daughter. She could not sit and watch her child be pushed into an unwanted marriage, especially with a drunkard. She called her daughter aside, "Rita" she said. "I know your dreams of going to school. I would be a bad mother if I watched you get into this trap of a marriage. So take this money and leave now. I have always saved it for your education. I have a relative in the city who would be able to house you. This is her address. She is educated and successful so i want you to be like her". Rita took the money and with tears in her eyes ran away through the back door.

Her father was furious when he discovered that his daughter had disappeared. Even his wife claimed not to have known her whereabouts. This was because she was afraid of what he might do to her. He was antagonistic to education.

Rita got to the city and made good use of her time there. She was able to get her desired education. Her mother's distant relative was very helpful to her. Soon she finished her education but since it was hard to get a job, she created one for herself. She soon became an owner of a fast rising boutique in the city.

After Rita had stabilized herself in the business world, she began to sponsor campaigns on importance of female child education. Many of the parents in her community began to see the importance of sending their daughters to school instead of sending them to a man's house where they might end up suffering. She made impact in the lives of many females in her community. She soon became the prided daughter of her father.

Her father who was antagonistic to female child education began to live a better life through his prided daughter. He regretted making the decision of marrying her off to a man at a young age. He joined his daughters movement of campaigning for female child education.

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