Machum, 12, lives with his parents and two younger sisters in Bangladesh. He was born with a physical disability and is unable to stand, walk, or eat without help. At school, Machum often feels sad when he cannot join the other students to run and play during break times.

Machum’s father is a rickshaw driver, and the family faces daily financial challenges. In many communities, families dealing with poverty may feel pressure to arrange early marriages for their daughters as a way to ease economic strain.

Learning to challenge harmful norms

Through a global adolescent development initiative designed for young people aged 10 to 14, Machum has begun exploring ideas about fairness, equality, and opportunity. The program encourages adolescents and their families to question harmful gender norms—including child marriage—and to support healthier, more equitable futures.

Machum was eager to participate from the very beginning. He is often the first to respond to questions and actively engages in discussions. Despite his physical challenges, he hasn’t missed a single session.
His mother also values the opportunity. “I take him to the ‘Choices’ sessions leaving my household work behind because he is happy when he is there; otherwise, he looks sad as he stays home most of the time,” she shares.

Standing up for his sisters’ rights

One activity that stood out to Machum invited him to draw his hopes and dreams alongside those of his sisters. “I liked it when in the first session I was asked to draw my hopes and dreams as well as my sisters’ hopes and dreams,” he says. “I like to create things; so, I want to be a scientist. I also hope that my sisters’ dreams will be fulfilled.”

Through the lessons, Machum has come to believe strongly that boys and girls should be treated equally. He has already begun putting his learning into action at home.

“I told my father not to get my sisters married at an early age. My sisters have the right to have their dreams fulfilled. I will stand up for their rights if my father wants to marry them off too young,” he says.