Rabeya Basri is only 13 years old, yet her young life has already faced storms that no child should have to endure. She lives in Bangladesh with her father, a day laborer, and her mother, a homemaker who supports the family by raising poultry. Their life was modest but peaceful. Rabeya was studying in Class Seven, and her days were filled with books, school uniforms, and quiet hope.

That peace shattered when her father became involved in an extramarital relationship and married again. Soon after, Rabeya and her mother were sent away to her maternal grandfather’s house. Overnight, Rabeya’s world changed. Her schooling was interrupted, and the stability she once knew disappeared.

At her grandparents’ home, life was difficult. The elderly couple struggled to manage the household, and tensions grew among family members. Arguments became frequent, and the environment turned emotionally unsafe. Throughout this time, Rabeya’s father showed little concern for her wellbeing or education.

Overwhelmed by poverty, social pressure, and uncertainty, Rabeya’s mother made a painful decision. She began arranging Rabeya’s marriage to a man who was financially well-off, but much older. For Rabeya, this was terrifying.

Word spread quickly through the community that a minor girl was being forced into marriage. This became a turning point. Trainees and staff members from the CMES Empowering Women and Girls Project ,Funded by Commonwealth of Learning (COL), stepped in immediately to support Rabeya. Understanding the urgency, they referred the case to BRAC Legal Aid.

Through legal intervention, counseling, and community engagement, the proposed child marriage was successfully stopped. Rabeya and her mother were informed about the Child Marriage Restraint Act and the long-term importance of girls’ education. For the first time in months, Rabeya felt protected.

Support did not end there. Rabeya was enrolled in the third quarter of the CMES Empowering Women and Girls Project’s Dressmaking and Tailoring Training Program, giving her practical skills alongside education. Coordination was also made with the principal of the local high school and arrangements were completed to re-enroll her in Class Seven in January, after she had missed the previous year’s annual exams.

Today, Rabeya goes to school regularly. Her books are back in her hands, and confidence has returned to her eyes. Her father has been contacted and advised to contribute monthly financial support for her education. Slowly, responsibility is being restored where it belongs.

Rabeya’s story is not just about stopping a child marriage, it is about restoring a child’s right to dream. Through timely intervention, legal protection, and compassionate guidance, Rabeya has been given a second chance at education and dignity.