The Bride Price

 

“The Bride Price”

In late April and early May, 2019, a production team from leapyear, inc. was in Malawi interviewing many people for the documentary with the working title of “The Bride Price”. Those interviewed include women who were forced to marry, girls, women and a man who have come out of underaged and forced marriages, and others who are working to stop the practice of underaged and forced marriages in Malawi.

 

 

 

 

Chief Kachindamoto has ended over 2,600 underaged and forced marriages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

McKnight Kalanda, Director of Child Development Affairs, Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare was very informative about the work being done to discourage underaged and forced marriages.

 

 

 

 

 

Nellie Ngwaluko, liaison between the government and grass roots groups in the field of gender rights was interviewed late one day because that was the only time she was available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were many positive role models among those interviewed.

 

 

 

 

 

What is the bride price? The bride price is money or goods paid by a man to a girls family to secure a bride, whether she is willing or not.

The bride also pays a price, she is unable to finish her schooling and typically has no voice in her marriage.

Each one of the girls pictured below have the possibility of being forced to marry. Each one is an orphan and a financial burden on their caregivers. Receiving money or goods from a man who is seeking a wife can help the caregivers to make ends meet for a while.

This documentary is providing an international voice to the people in Malawi who are working to transform their society and to the girls who are affected by forced marriages. “The Bride Price” will bring much needed attention to the lack of girls’ education and the impact of forced marriages for girls in Malawi. It will also show the complex social structure in Malawi where one can find female Members of Parliament, yet more than 50% of the girls between the ages of 16 and 18 are married.

According to Malawian Government statistics in 2014, only 22% of girls aged 14 -17 are in secondary school. This documentary has the potential to positively impact the number of girls in secondary school in Malawi while decreasing the frequency of and then stopping forced marriage.

“The Bride Price” is now in post production.  Kanyenyeva Ministries is in the process of building a girls rescue center for girls and women who come out of forced and underaged marriages. At this rescue center, the girls/women and their children will be able to live while the girls/women complete their education and learn a skill. Will you donate to help make Alinafe Girls Rescue Center a reality? 100% of your donation using this donation link will be used to make a Alinafe Girls Rescue Center a reality which will change lives in Malawi.

In Chichewa, Alinafe means Immanuel, God with us. May God be with and bless every girl in Malawi.

Zikomo kwambiri!!!! Thank you very much!!!!