TEDWomen 2015
Memory Banda: A warrior’s cry against child marriage
Memory Banda: O berro dunha guerreira en contra do matrimonio infantil
Filmed:
Readability: 2.7
1,355,672 views
A vida de Memory Banda tomou un camiño distinto ao da súa irmá. Cando a súa irmá acadou a súa puberdade foi enviada ao tradicional "campamento de iniciación" onde as mociñas son instruídas sobre "como satisfacer sexualmente a un home". Alí ficou preñada aos 11 anos. Banda, porén, negouse a ir. Mobilizou a outras e pediulle ao líder da comunidade que ditase unha lei que prohibise o matrimonio antes dos 18 anos. Agora elevou a súa petición ao nivel estatal... con resultados incríbeis para as mozas de todo Malawi
Memory Banda - Activist
Memory Banda is a tireless leader for girls’ rights, in Malawi and around the world. Full bio
Memory Banda is a tireless leader for girls’ rights, in Malawi and around the world. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:13
I'll begin today
0
1014
1811
Gustaríame comezar
00:14
by sharing a poem
1
2825
2066
cun poema
00:16
written by my friend from Malawi,
2
4891
3135
escrito por unha amiga de Malawi
00:20
Eileen Piri.
3
8026
2136
que se chama Eileen Piri.
00:22
Eileen is only 13 years old,
4
10162
3344
Eileen só ten 13 anos
00:25
but when we were going through
the collection of poetry that we wrote,
the collection of poetry that we wrote,
5
13506
5874
pero, mentres revisabamos
a colección de poesía que escribimos,
a colección de poesía que escribimos,
00:31
I found her poem so interesting,
6
19380
2868
o seu poema pareceume moi interesante,
00:34
so motivating.
7
22248
1997
verdadeiramente inspirador.
00:36
So I'll read it to you.
8
24245
2113
Así que vóullelo ler.
00:38
She entitled her poem
"I'll Marry When I Want."
"I'll Marry When I Want."
9
26905
3598
Titúlase "Penso casar cando queira".
00:42
(Laughter)
10
30503
2856
(Risos)
00:45
"I'll marry when I want.
11
33359
2531
"Penso casar cando queira.
00:47
My mother can't force me to marry.
12
35890
4900
Miña nai non pode casarme á forza.
00:52
My father cannot force me to marry.
13
40790
3204
Meu pai non pode casarme á forza.
00:57
My uncle, my aunt,
14
45526
2810
Nin meu tío, nin miña tía,
01:00
my brother or sister,
15
48336
2345
nin meu irmán, nin miña irmá,
01:02
cannot force me to marry.
16
50681
2182
poden casarme á forza.
01:05
No one in the world
17
53885
2369
Ninguén no mundo
01:08
can force me to marry.
18
56254
3296
me pode casar á forza.
01:11
I'll marry when I want.
19
59550
2949
Casarei cando eu queira.
01:14
Even if you beat me,
20
62499
2578
Aínda que batas en min,
01:17
even if you chase me away,
21
65077
2670
mesmo se corres tras min,
01:19
even if you do anything bad to me,
22
67747
3181
fágasme o que me fagas,
01:22
I'll marry when I want.
23
70928
3436
penso casar cando queira.
01:26
I'll marry when I want,
24
74364
2903
Casarei cando eu queira,
01:29
but not before I am well educated,
25
77267
3738
pero non antes de obter unha boa educación
01:33
and not before I am all grown up.
26
81005
4318
ou de rematar de medrar de todo.
01:37
I'll marry when I want."
27
85323
2487
Penso casar cando queira."
01:40
This poem might seem odd,
28
88831
2996
Este poema pode resultar algo raro
01:43
written by a 13-year-old girl,
29
91827
3529
vindo dunha rapaciña de 13 anos,
01:47
but where I and Eileen come from,
30
95356
4783
pero de aló de onde nós vimos
01:52
this poem, which I have just read to you,
31
100139
3761
o poema que lles acabo de ler
01:55
is a warrior's cry.
32
103900
3716
é todo un grito de guerra.
01:59
I am from Malawi.
33
107616
2925
Son de Malawi,
02:03
Malawi is one of the poorest countries,
34
111191
3924
un dos países máis pobres do mundo,
02:07
very poor,
35
115115
2879
realmente pobre,
02:09
where gender equality is questionable.
36
117994
4528
onde a igualdade de xénero é cuestionable.
02:14
Growing up in that country,
37
122522
2322
Ó criarme nese país.
02:16
I couldn't make my own choices in life.
38
124844
3251
non puiden decidir sobre a miña vida.
02:20
I couldn't even explore
39
128095
2298
Non se me permitía nin sequera considerar
02:22
personal opportunities in life.
40
130393
2996
as oportunidades que se me presentaban.
02:25
I will tell you a story
41
133389
2530
Voulles contar a historia
02:27
of two different girls,
42
135919
2462
de dúas rapazas moi diferentes,
02:30
two beautiful girls.
43
138381
3645
dúas nenas fermosas,
02:34
These girls grew up
44
142026
2554
que medraron
02:36
under the same roof.
45
144580
2113
baixo o mesmo teito.
02:38
They were eating the same food.
46
146693
2717
Comían os mesmos pratos.
02:41
Sometimes, they would share clothes,
47
149410
2763
Ás veces, compartían roupa
02:44
and even shoes.
48
152173
2809
e ata calzado.
02:46
But their lives ended up differently,
49
154982
4667
Mais as súas vidas remataron seguindo
02:51
in two different paths.
50
159649
1997
dous camiños ben distintos.
02:55
The other girl is my little sister.
51
163039
3715
A outra rapaza é miña irmá pequena.
02:58
My little sister was only 11 years old
52
166754
4923
Só tiña 11 anos
03:03
when she got pregnant.
53
171677
2652
cando quedou embarazada.
03:08
It's a hurtful thing.
54
176029
3713
Que cousa tan dolorosa!
03:13
Not only did it hurt her, even me.
55
181352
3281
Non só lle doeu a ela: tamén a min.
03:16
I was going through a hard time as well.
56
184633
3599
Eu tampouco o estaba a ter fácil.
03:20
As it is in my culture,
57
188232
3715
Como é tradición na miña cultura,
03:23
once you reach puberty stage,
58
191947
2995
ó acadar a puberdade
03:26
you are supposed to go
to initiation camps.
to initiation camps.
59
194942
3878
unha debe marchar
a un campamento de iniciación.
a un campamento de iniciación.
03:30
In these initiation camps,
60
198820
2298
Nestes campamentos
03:33
you are taught how
to sexually please a man.
to sexually please a man.
61
201118
3855
apréndenche a satisfacer
sexualmente os homes.
sexualmente os homes.
03:36
There is this special day,
62
204973
1788
Hai un día especial,
03:38
which they call "Very Special Day"
63
206761
3204
chámanlle o "Día moi especial",
03:41
where a man who is hired
by the community
by the community
64
209965
2554
no que un home contratado pola comunidade
03:44
comes to the camp
65
212519
2624
vén ó campamento
03:47
and sleeps with the little girls.
66
215143
2429
e se deita coas meniñas.
03:51
Imagine the trauma that these young girls
67
219252
2514
Imaxinen o trauma co que estas rapazas
03:53
go through every day.
68
221766
2750
teñen que lidar cada día.
03:58
Most girls end up pregnant.
69
226766
3159
A maior parte delas quedan embarazadas.
04:01
They even contract HIV and AIDS
70
229925
2617
Tamén contraen o VIH e a SIDA,
04:04
and other sexually transmitted diseases.
71
232542
2340
e outras enfermidades
de transmisión sexual.
de transmisión sexual.
04:07
For my little sister,
she ended up being pregnant.
she ended up being pregnant.
72
235692
4911
A miña irmá tocoulle embarazo.
04:12
Today, she's only 16 years old
73
240603
4063
Hoxe ten 16 anos
04:16
and she has three children.
74
244666
2996
e xa leva 3 bebés.
04:19
Her first marriage did not survive,
75
247662
3645
O seu primeiro matrimonio non durou,
04:23
nor did her second marriage.
76
251307
3297
tampouco o segundo.
04:26
On the other side, there is this girl.
77
254604
4177
E logo está estoutra rapaza,
04:31
She's amazing.
78
259341
1973
que é incrible.
04:33
(Laughter)
79
261314
1904
(Risos)
04:35
(Applause)
80
263218
2945
(Aplausos)
04:39
I call her amazing because she is.
81
267723
2415
E digo que é incrible porque o é.
04:42
She's very fabulous.
82
270138
3065
É unha rapaza marabillosa.
04:45
That girl is me. (Laughter)
83
273203
3761
Esa rapaza son eu.
(Risos)
04:48
When I was 13 years old,
84
276964
3018
Cando tiña 13 anos
04:51
I was told, you are grown up,
85
279982
3414
dixéronme que xa era grande,
04:55
you have now reached of age,
86
283396
2832
que xa tiña idade
04:58
you're supposed to go
to the initiation camp.
to the initiation camp.
87
286228
3367
de ir ó campamento de iniciación
e que debía ir.
e que debía ir.
05:01
I was like, "What?
88
289595
2972
Eu dixen: "Que?
05:04
I'm not going to go
to the initiation camps."
to the initiation camps."
89
292567
3982
Non penso ir
ós campamentos de iniciación".
ós campamentos de iniciación".
05:10
You know what the women said to me?
90
298349
2763
Saben que me dixo aquela muller?
05:13
"You are a stupid girl. Stubborn.
91
301112
3622
"Que rapaza tan parva e teimuda!
05:16
You do not respect the traditions
of our society, of our community."
of our society, of our community."
92
304734
7267
Non respectas as tradicións
da nosa sociedade, da nosa comunidade."
da nosa sociedade, da nosa comunidade."
05:24
I said no because I knew
where I was going.
where I was going.
93
312001
3808
Eu díxenlle que non
porque sabía o que me agardaba.
porque sabía o que me agardaba.
05:27
I knew what I wanted in life.
94
315809
2624
Sabía o que quería na vida.
05:31
I had a lot of dreams as a young girl.
95
319773
2965
Xa de nova tiña soños.
05:36
I wanted to get well educated,
96
324238
3645
Quería acadar unha boa formación
05:39
to find a decent job in the future.
97
327883
2480
para máis adiante atopar
un traballo decente.
un traballo decente.
05:42
I was imagining myself as a lawyer,
98
330363
1759
Imaxinábame de avogada,
05:44
seated on that big chair.
99
332122
2710
sentada nunha cadeira de oficina desas.
05:46
Those were the imaginations that
100
334832
2306
Iso era ó que aspiraba,
05:49
were going through my mind every day.
101
337138
3330
o que me pasaba pola cabeza tódolos días.
05:52
And I knew that one day,
102
340468
1834
Sabía que algún día
05:54
I would contribute something,
a little something to my community.
a little something to my community.
103
342302
4574
tería algo que achegar,
por pouco que fora, á miña comunidade.
por pouco que fora, á miña comunidade.
05:58
But every day after refusing,
104
346876
2531
Pero, dende que rexeitara o campamento,
06:01
women would tell me,
105
349407
2020
as mulleres non paraban de dicirme
06:03
"Look at you, you're all grown up.
Your little sister has a baby.
Your little sister has a baby.
106
351427
3390
"Mira para aí, túa irmá pequena
xa ten un bebé.
xa ten un bebé.
06:06
What about you?"
107
354817
1486
E ti, que xa es adulta, que?"
06:08
That was the music
that I was hearing every day,
that I was hearing every day,
108
356303
4714
Esa era a cantarela que tiña
que aturar día tras día
que aturar día tras día
06:13
and that is the music
that girls hear every day
that girls hear every day
109
361017
3877
e a cantarela que as rapazas
aturan tódolos días
aturan tódolos días
06:16
when they don't do something
that the community needs them to do.
that the community needs them to do.
110
364894
4149
cando deciden non facer algo
que a comunidade precisa que fagan.
que a comunidade precisa que fagan.
06:23
When I compared the two stories
between me and my sister,
between me and my sister,
111
371524
3924
Cando comparei as dúas historias,
a de miña irmá e a miña,
a de miña irmá e a miña,
06:27
I said, "Why can't I do something?
112
375448
4737
pregunteime: "Por que non podo facer nada?
06:32
Why can't I change something
that has happened for a long time
that has happened for a long time
113
380185
5061
Por que non podo mudar algo
que leva pasando tanto tempo
que leva pasando tanto tempo
06:37
in our community?"
114
385246
2415
na nosa comunidade?"
06:39
That was when I called other girls
115
387661
2508
Aí foi cando decidín chamar outras rapazas
06:42
just like my sister, who have children,
116
390169
2554
coma miña irmá, rapazas con fillos
06:44
who have been in class but they have
forgotten how to read and write.
forgotten how to read and write.
117
392723
3464
que foran á escola pero que xa
non lembraban como se lía e escribía.
non lembraban como se lía e escribía.
06:48
I said, "Come on, we can
remind each other
remind each other
118
396187
2110
Díxenlles: "Veña, podemos
lembrar mutuamente
lembrar mutuamente
06:50
how to read and write again,
119
398297
2135
como se le e escribe outra vez,
06:52
how to hold the pen,
how to read, to hold the book."
how to read, to hold the book."
120
400432
3808
como se agarra o bolígrafo,
como se le, como se suxeita o libro".
como se le, como se suxeita o libro".
06:56
It was a great time I had with them.
121
404240
3645
Foi unha época estupenda.
06:59
Nor did I just learn a little about them,
122
407885
4272
Non só aprendín un pouquiño sobre elas,
07:04
but they were able to tell me
their personal stories,
their personal stories,
123
412157
3437
senón que me chegaron a contar
as súas historias persoais,
as súas historias persoais,
07:07
what they were facing every day
124
415594
1811
polo que estaban pasando
07:09
as young mothers.
125
417405
2670
como nais adolescentes.
07:12
That was when I was like,
126
420075
1997
Entón pensei:
07:14
'Why can't we take all these things
that are happening to us
that are happening to us
127
422072
3924
"Por que non collemos todo isto
que nos está a pasar
que nos está a pasar
07:17
and present them and tell our mothers,
our traditional leaders,
our traditional leaders,
128
425996
3877
e presentámolo, e dicímoslles
ás nosas nais e ós líderes relixiosos
ás nosas nais e ós líderes relixiosos
07:21
that these are the wrong things?"
129
429873
1997
que estas cousas están mal?"
07:23
It was a scary thing to do,
130
431870
2067
Tiñamos medo de facelo
07:25
because these traditional leaders,
131
433937
1973
porque os líderes da nosa comunidade
07:27
they are already accustomed to the things
132
435910
2204
xa están afeitos ás cousas
07:30
that have been there for ages.
133
438114
2440
que levan séculos pasando.
07:32
A hard thing to change,
134
440554
1927
Non sería doado cambialas
07:34
but a good thing to try.
135
442481
2624
pero pagaba a pena intentalo.
07:37
So we tried.
136
445105
2252
E así o fixemos.
07:39
It was very hard, but we pushed.
137
447357
2508
Foi moi difícil, pero insistimos.
07:42
And I'm here to say that in my community,
138
450245
2864
E hoxe estou aquí para contar
que a miña
que a miña
07:45
it was the first community after girls
139
453109
2560
foi a primeira comunidade
na que as rapazas
na que as rapazas
07:47
pushed so hard to our traditional leader,
140
455669
3367
presionaron tanto o noso líder relixioso
07:51
and our leader stood up for us
and said no girl has to be married
and said no girl has to be married
141
459036
4389
que este rematou por apoiarnos e declarar
que ningunha rapaza tiña que casar
que ningunha rapaza tiña que casar
07:55
before the age of 18.
142
463425
2229
ata acadar os 18 anos de idade.
07:57
(Applause)
143
465654
3853
(Aplauso)
08:05
In my community,
144
473502
1741
A miña comunidade
08:07
that was the first time a community,
145
475243
2647
foi a primeira
08:09
they had to call the bylaws,
146
477890
2461
en cambiar o regulamento,
08:12
the first bylaw that protected girls
147
480351
3507
en crear unha lei que protexe as rapazas
08:15
in our community.
148
483858
2194
da comunidade.
08:18
We did not stop there.
149
486052
1788
Mais non paramos aí.
08:19
We forged ahead.
150
487840
2949
Seguimos adiante.
08:22
We were determined to fight for girls
not just in my community,
not just in my community,
151
490789
3854
Estabamos decididas a loitar polas mozas
doutras comunidades,
doutras comunidades,
08:26
but even in other communities.
152
494643
2786
non só da nosa.
08:29
When the child marriage bill
was being presented in February,
was being presented in February,
153
497429
4133
En febreiro, cando se presentou o proxecto
de lei sobre o matrimonio infantil,
de lei sobre o matrimonio infantil,
08:33
we were there at the Parliament house.
154
501562
3646
nós estabamos no parlamento.
08:37
Every day, when the members
of Parliament were entering,
of Parliament were entering,
155
505208
4086
Tódolos días, mentres entraban
os membros do parlamento,
os membros do parlamento,
08:41
we were telling them,
"Would you please support the bill?"
"Would you please support the bill?"
156
509294
3089
nós iámoslles dicindo:
"Por favor, apoie o proxecto de lei!"
"Por favor, apoie o proxecto de lei!"
08:44
And we don't have
much technology like here,
much technology like here,
157
512383
4759
Non contamos
con tanta tecnoloxía coma aquí,
con tanta tecnoloxía coma aquí,
08:49
but we have our small phones.
158
517142
1997
pero tiñamos os nosos teléfonos móbiles,
08:51
So we said, "Why can't we get
their numbers and text them?"
their numbers and text them?"
159
519139
5030
así que pensamos: "Por que non conseguimos
os seus números e lles escribimos?"
os seus números e lles escribimos?"
08:56
So we did that. It was a good thing.
160
524178
3250
E fixémolo. Saiu ben.
08:59
(Applause)
161
527428
2020
(Aplauso)
Así que, cando se aprobou o proxecto,
volvémoslles escribir:
volvémoslles escribir:
09:01
So when the bill passed,
we texted them back,
we texted them back,
162
529448
2973
09:04
"Thank you for supporting the bill."
163
532421
2428
"Grazas por apoiaren o proxecto de lei".
(Risos)
09:06
(Laughter)
164
534849
1070
09:07
And when the bill was signed
by the president,
by the president,
165
535919
3345
E, cando o presidente firmou o proxecto
09:11
making it into law, it was a plus.
166
539264
3366
e promulgou a lei, obtivemos outro éxito.
09:14
Now, in Malawi, 18 is the legal
marriage age, from 15 to 18.
marriage age, from 15 to 18.
167
542630
5852
Agora a idade legal para casar en Malawi
é 18. Pasamos dos 15 ós 18 anos.
é 18. Pasamos dos 15 ós 18 anos.
09:20
(Applause)
168
548482
3645
(Aplauso)
09:26
It's a good thing to know
that the bill passed,
that the bill passed,
169
554495
3576
Alégrame que se aprobase a lei,
09:30
but let me tell you this:
170
558071
3042
pero eu pregúntolles unha cousa:
09:33
There are countries where 18
is the legal marriage age,
is the legal marriage age,
171
561113
4388
hai países onde a idade legal
para casar son os 18 anos,
para casar son os 18 anos,
09:37
but don't we hear cries
of women and girls every day?
of women and girls every day?
172
565501
4272
e aínda así, non ouvimos choros
de mulleres e nenas a diario?
de mulleres e nenas a diario?
09:41
Every day, girls' lives
are being wasted away.
are being wasted away.
173
569773
5643
Tódolos días se botan a perder
vidas de rapazas.
vidas de rapazas.
09:47
This is high time for leaders
to honor their commitment.
to honor their commitment.
174
575416
6454
Vai sendo hora de que os líderes
cumpran a súa palabra.
cumpran a súa palabra.
09:53
In honoring this commitment,
175
581870
2369
Cumprir a súa palabra
09:56
it means keeping girls' issues
at heart every time.
at heart every time.
176
584239
5712
significa pensar nos problemas
das rapazas todo o tempo.
das rapazas todo o tempo.
10:01
We don't have to be subjected as second,
177
589951
3761
Non temos que ser cidadás de segunda.
10:05
but they have to know that women,
as we are in this room,
as we are in this room,
178
593712
4238
Teñen que saber que as mulleres
como as que estamos nesta sala
como as que estamos nesta sala
10:09
we are not just women,
we are not just girls,
we are not just girls,
179
597950
3050
non somos simples mulleres,
non somos simples rapazas:
non somos simples rapazas:
10:13
we are extraordinary.
180
601000
1980
somos extraordinarias.
10:14
We can do more.
181
602980
1913
Podemos facer máis.
10:16
And another thing for Malawi,
182
604893
2995
Outro asunto preocupante en Malawi,
10:19
and not just Malawi but other countries:
183
607888
2902
e non só en Malawi, senón noutros países,
10:22
The laws which are there,
184
610790
3785
é que as leis,
10:26
you know how a law is not a law
until it is enforced?
until it is enforced?
185
614575
5851
ben se sabe que unha lei non é lei
ata que non se fai cumprir, non si?
ata que non se fai cumprir, non si?
10:32
The law which has just recently passed
186
620426
3413
Esta lei que se acaba de aprobar
10:35
and the laws that in other countries
have been there,
have been there,
187
623839
2624
e as deste tipo noutros países
10:38
they need to be publicized
at the local level,
at the local level,
188
626463
3924
precisan ser divulgadas a nivel local,
10:42
at the community level,
189
630387
2183
ó nivel das comunidades,
10:44
where girls' issues are very striking.
190
632570
5386
onde as rapazas sofren estes problemas.
10:49
Girls face issues, difficult issues,
at the community level every day.
at the community level every day.
191
637956
4760
As mozas teñen que enfrontarse diariamente
a estas dificultades nas súas comunidades.
a estas dificultades nas súas comunidades.
10:55
So if these young girls know
that there are laws that protect them,
that there are laws that protect them,
192
643274
5085
Pero, se saben que hai leis
que as protexen,
que as protexen,
11:00
they will be able to stand up
and defend themselves
and defend themselves
193
648359
2786
poderán dicir que non e defenderse soas,
11:03
because they will know that
there is a law that protects them.
there is a law that protects them.
194
651145
3671
sabendo que hai unha lei que as apoia.
11:09
And another thing I would say is that
195
657254
4109
Outra cousa que quería dicir é que
11:13
girls' voices and women's voices
196
661363
4598
a voz das mozas e das mulleres
11:17
are beautiful, they are there,
197
665961
2763
é fermosa e está aí,
11:20
but we cannot do this alone.
198
668724
3181
pero non podemos facer isto soas.
11:23
Male advocates, they have to jump in,
199
671905
2670
Precisamos homes aliados
que se involucren
que se involucren
e estean dispostos a traballar connosco.
11:26
to step in and work together.
200
674575
1950
11:28
It's a collective work.
201
676525
2578
Require un esforzo colectivo.
11:31
What we need is what girls elsewhere need:
202
679103
2740
O que precisamos é o que precisan
o resto de mozas:
o resto de mozas:
11:33
good education, and above all,
not to marry whilst 11.
not to marry whilst 11.
203
681843
5758
unha boa educación e, sobre todo,
non ter que casar con 11 anos.
non ter que casar con 11 anos.
11:42
And furthermore,
204
690085
2868
É máis,
11:44
I know that together,
205
692953
3065
sei que xuntos
11:48
we can transform the legal,
206
696018
3948
podemos mudar o marco legal,
11:51
the cultural and political framework
207
699966
3169
político e cultural
11:55
that denies girls of their rights.
208
703135
4771
que lles nega ás rapazas os seus dereitos.
11:59
I am standing here today
209
707906
5058
Hoxe estou aquí
12:04
and declaring that we can
end child marriage in a generation.
end child marriage in a generation.
210
712964
7040
para declarar que podemos acabar
co matrimonio infantil nunha xeración.
co matrimonio infantil nunha xeración.
12:12
This is the moment
211
720677
2183
É hora
12:14
where a girl and a girl,
and millions of girls worldwide,
and millions of girls worldwide,
212
722860
4434
de que millóns de rapazas no mundo
12:19
will be able to say,
213
727294
2601
sexan quen de dicir:
12:21
"I will marry when I want."
214
729895
3204
"Penso casar cando queira".
12:25
(Applause)
215
733099
3045
(Aplauso)
12:35
Thank you. (Applause)
216
743284
1935
Grazas. (Aplauso)
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Memory Banda - ActivistMemory Banda is a tireless leader for girls’ rights, in Malawi and around the world.
Why you should listen
Memory Banda is a tireless leader for girls' rights around the world. She is leading Malawi's fight to end child marriage through her work with Let Girls Lead and the Girl Empowerment Network of Malawi.
Only 18-years-old, Memory championed a succesful national campaign that culminated in landmark legislation that outlawed child marriage. Memory works with girl leaders to ensure that village chiefs ban child marriage, end sexual initiation practices, enable girls to finish school and live safe from violence in a country where more than half of girls are married as children.
Memory became an advocate for girls after her younger sister was forced into marriage at the age of 11. She is now a college student in Malawi.
Memory Banda | Speaker | TED.com