Summary
Football is helping young girls in Rajasthan, India, resist forced and underage marriage by providing them opportunities to play, travel, and gain confidence. The sport offers a path to education and potential employment, challenging traditional expectations and lowering child marriage rates.
Key Facts
- Nisha Vaishnav and her sister Munna started playing football through a program aimed at improving girls' lives.
- In India, child marriage is illegal, but it still happens frequently, especially in Rajasthan where rates are higher than the national average.
- Football for Freedom is a non-profit initiative teaching over 800 girls in Rajasthan about football, aiming to empower them.
- Through football, Nisha advanced to play for the Rajasthan state team in 2024.
- Nisha refused a marriage proposal that came while she was at football practice, insisting she was too young to marry.
- Playing football has helped Nisha and her sister resist family pressures to marry early.
- The program explains to parents that sports can lead to job opportunities, as there are reserved public sector roles for athletes.
- Poverty and tradition are key reasons for continued child marriages in India.
