When Silence Breaks: A Story of Child Marriage, and the Power of SALT Conversations

[santosh bishowkarma]

This blog is based on a real-life incident that emerged during a community-based SALT
conversation, conducted under the ARC Program by CWSN. The incident left a deep and lasting
impact not only on community members, but also on us as community facilitators. It is often
said that childhood is like soft clay in the hands of a potter it takes the shape it is given. Today’s
children are the leaders of tomorrow. That is why it is essential to nurture them with the right
values, culture, education, and discipline at the right time. While the family is a child’s first
school, the wider community environment also plays a crucial role in shaping their lives. During
one of the SALT conversations, a community member became deeply emotional and
spontaneously shared her life story. She spoke openly, without fear or hesitation trusting us as
familiar faces, almost like her own people. She is currently 21 years old. While actively involved
in a child club during her adolescence, she became a victim of child marriage at the age of
17–18, driven by social rumors, gossip, and pressure at an age when she barely understood
what love or responsibility truly meant. That decision, taken under immense social and
emotional pressure, left a deep scar on her life. Even after marriage, she continued to face
negative comments and social exclusion. At a time when she needed care, understanding, and
support to adjust to a new family and environment, she was instead separated from her
husband and family for nearly two years. This period was extremely painful for her and
eventually led to depression. Sadly, many members of the community failed to view her with
empathy. Even today, there has been little change in community attitudes and behavior toward
her. Time moved on, environments changed, physical structures developed but mindsets
remained the same. Despite enduring immense pain and countless challenges, she never gave
up on her education. She continued her academic journey and has now successfully completed
her higher secondary level. Currently, her husband is working abroad, and her family’s situation
is gradually improving. What makes her story truly inspiring is this: Even though society
repeatedly tried to push her down, she gathered strength, faced every situation with courage,
and stood back up again and again. This entire experience powerfully demonstrates how SALT
conversations can create trust, emotional safety, and a sense of belonging within communities.
When communities learn to truly listen, many suppressed voices can finally be heard and those
voices can become the pathways to meaningful change.