Mekale Birhan, age 55, is head of the South Mecha district Orthodox Church Council in Ethiopia, and served the past 2 decades as a priest. “In my past, child marriages were a common occurrence in my community, me and my colleagues even participated in some of these ceremonies without fully understanding the harmful consequences and impacts they have on youths. I think growing up, it was ingrained as a cultural practice. However, I started to be conscious when I started collaborating with the WCSA (= CSO supported by PtY) and engaging in various trainings in the Power to You(th) (PtY) project. These experiences opened my eyes and made me increasingly aware of the detrimental factors associated with child marriages. I am grateful for the transformation that occurred within me. By embracing newfound awareness, I can now actively work towards protecting the rights of girls and boys and ensuring they have the opportunity to lead good lives without being bound by a young marriage.”
