"I thank all my friends who have taken the initiative to bring me back home" – Sheetal

CWISH has formed GAG in 32 schools in Balephi & Sunkoshi RMs under the Power Girls Project and has been continuously empowering them through training and meetings to advocate for their rights and the protection of children. GAG has been conducting monthly meetings to discuss child protection issues. In one such meeting in a school of Sunkoshi RM on 11^th August 2023 where they discussed a case of child marriage among their classmates. Sheetal, 15 years 15-year-old girl of grade 10, eloped with her boyfriend on 29^th July 2023. In the meeting, they discussed the case and decided to take the initiative to find her and bring her back to school for education. GAG applied to the school administration and also the ward office on 13^th August to search for the girl. They also met her parents on 20^th August 2023, and requested them to find her and support her to continue her education. Her parents searched for her, brought her back and sent her back to school.

In her own words, “One of my relatives, whom I called sister-in-law and who lives in my neighborhood, gave him my cell number. He calls me regularly and I fell in love with him. I ran away from home and got married to him on 29^th July 2023. All his family members, including his mother, father, brother and sister-in-law, always scold me. And he comes home drinking alcohol and beats me regularly. Then my father came to me to take me back. He told me that my school friends had visited him and told him that I needed to continue my education. They requested him to bring me back and send me back to school. I came back with him. I would like to thank all my friends from Girls Advocacy Group who have taken the initiative to bring me back. Now, I will continuously go to school and focus on my studies.”