Memory’s life changed irrevocably when her younger sister, merely 11 years old, was forced into marriage with a man in his thirties who had impregnated her. This moment shattered their close bond and launched Memory into a lifelong fight against child marriage in her native Malawi. She talked to the New York Times about her work.

From personal experience to national movement

Her sister’s forced child marriage deeply affected Memory and highlighted the grim reality that 37.7% of girls in Malawi marry before turning 18. Engraved in traditions in rural Malawi, girls are often sent to “initiation camps” upon reaching puberty, staying for weeks and learning about motherhood and how to sexually please a man. Recognizing the role of such cultural practices, Memory started challenging these harmful traditions at just 13 years old and, with the help of the Girls Empowerment Network, rallied local girls to demand reforms and better educational opportunities. This partnership formed the backbone of a movement aiming to transform societal norms and protect young girls from forced marriages, even outlawing child marriage in Malawi in 2015.

“Our campaign was very impactful because we brought together girls who told their stories through lived experience. From there, a lot of people just wanted to be part of the movement and change things after hearing the depressing stories from the girls.” – Memory Banda

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