My name is Ariette, a 17-year-old teenage girl. My family and I fled the attacks in our village a year ago and we moved to an IDP site.
My father had lost all his cattle and we found ourselves without resources. It had become difficult for the family to find food. My mother and I go to wash the clothes of a family in the host community to earn 1000 francs to buy food for the family.
Given these conditions, my father decided to give me in marriage to a 65-year-old trader who already has 3 other wives. I did not agree to this marriage, but my father threatened to ban me if I refused this marriage.
One evening, I decided to run away to hide in the parish. The religious sisters of the parish took me to see the psychologist who works with an NGO, a partner of UNHCR. I had three sessions with him and he also sent me to the hospital for treatment. I couldn’t go back to my family because my father told me that I will no longer be his daughter. I told the sisters that I wanted to continue my studies. With the help of this NGO and UNHCR, the sisters sent me to the rehabilitation center for young girls in the city. This center is also managed by the nuns. I started weaving training and enrolled again in school, in fifth grade. I am very happy to pursue my dream of continuing my studies.