Tipping Point Project of CARE Bangladesh yesterday organised a photo-voice exhibition titled ‘What Real Change Looks Like’, a photography experience created by girls and women of Photo-Voice, at Six Seasons Hotel in Gulshan of the capital.

Charlotta Schlyter, ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh, inaugurated the exhibition as chief guest, while Phedra Moon Morris, Head of Aid Development Cooperation, High Commission of Canada, was present as special guest. Shipon Hazra, Sajena Akter, Jasiya Aktar, Shiuly Senapati from Sunamganj shared their stories of change. Besides, Khushi Kabir, Executive Director, Nijera Kori, Rokeya Sultana, international artist, Ruchira Tabassum Naved, senior scientist, ICDDR, B were present as panelists.

The project works with adolescent boys and girls and communities to change social norms and practices that perpetuate child marriage.  To understand how the work in the past 3 years has contributed to changes in the lives of girls and their communities, Tipping Point used Photo-Voice as an evaluation tool.  Adolescent girls and mothers, who had never used cameras before, shared their stories and perspectives through photography. The images captured are stunning glimpses into the lives of women and girls in Bangladesh, where child marriage is a daily reality.

CARE’s community participatory analysis conducted in 2016 highlighted that though awareness on the negative consequences of child marriage is high, the practice of child marriage still persists. The stories of girls collected during the evaluation highlighted that lack of access to education, sports, and other growth opportunities is closely linked to child marriage. Girls still have to take the burden of household chores. Their roles as brides and mothers are still given more importance than their real aspirations. According to the girls creating space for girls to learn, play, and gain skills just like boys, and for boys to share household responsibilities are critical for preventing child marriage. It also highlighted that it is important to secure all rights of girls without which it will not be possible to prevent Child Marriage.