On International Youth Day today, we want to share with you an encouraging story from UMN’s Interfaith Peace Youth Group in Sunsari District. About a year ago, the youth group successfully collected USD 1900 to construct two additional classrooms in the Madrasa (Muslim school) to upgrade the school to Grade 7 level – earlier it only went up to Grade 5. Muslim girls aren’t usually allowed to study in schools other than the Madrasa. So, previously girls in this community left school after Grade 5 and were often expected to marry after finishing school.

This youth initiative has reduced firstly the school dropout rates for girls after Grade 5, and secondly the incidence of child marriage.