Munisa is not sure she remembers how old she was when she got married. She is now 38, with three daughters under the age of 13 and a 3-year-old son. The girls, Deeba, 12, Shiba, 10, and Husna, 8, are all in second grade because of the economic hardships the family has faced and the frequent moves they have been forced to make.

Munisa’s husband has been admitted to detoxification centres many times over the past eight years. Despite this, he continued using drugs, beating his wife, once breaking her leg, and often becoming violent with the children as well. Munisa was forced to do anything to procure drugs for her husband, who never left her any money to buy food for herself and the children.

The last time he returned home, it seemed he had managed to detox, but he did not find a job and used that as an excuse to start using drugs again. Before the Taliban sent him back to another centre, he made his wife pregnant.

Munisa earns a living by cleaning houses, but in Afghanistan more than half of the population lives below the poverty line, and finding work is increasingly difficult. At times, the family is forced to survive for days solely thanks to the help of neighbours.

Munisa fell into debt to pay for food and rent, until one of her creditors began to threaten her. Desperate, she decided to marry off Deeba, the eldest of her daughters. It was a desperate act, the only way to receive a dowry and repay at least part of the accumulated debt.

Deeba did not want to get married. At the very beginning of her adolescence, with a whole life ahead of her, Deeba had dreams she hoped to pursue. She wanted to keep studying. Her dream was to become a doctor. Munisa knew this well, but she felt trapped in a situation with no alternatives. Her relatives are poor; no one could help her. It was her attempt at resistance, a choice made out of necessity for the sake of her other children. She kept going as best she could, but by the time NOVE arrived, she was exhausted – emotionally as well.

Thanks to FEDA, NOVE’s Emergency Fund, Deeba and Munisa received help. The debt was paid off, and Deeba will continue going to school.