In Niger, a young woman’s self-determination has become a shield for others. Her name is Fatouma.

When Fatouma was just 10 years old, her father passed away, and her family faced sudden financial hardship. At 12, her mother tried to arrange her marriage. Fatouma refused. She pleaded to stay in school—but was met with anger from her mother, even seeing her books and legal documents burned. Taking refuge with her grandmother, Fatouma found a lifeline: enrollment at Agir Plus, a VOW for Girls grantee partner.

There, Fatouma trained, rebuilt her confidence, and discovered her calling. After two years, she was invited to join the organization as a facilitator, guiding and supporting other girls who had faced similar risks.

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Now in her 20s, Fatouma is working to keep girls in her community safe and in school. When she hears of a girl at risk of early marriage, she steps in directly—meeting with families, raising awareness, and helping them understand the dangers. In just 18 months, she helped prevent 12 child marriages.

Fatouma’s vision for girls is bold: “If you keep girls in school, they could become ministers. They could become a general. They could become the President.”

With every girl she reaches, Fatouma is helping shape a future where girls have the knowledge, power, and freedom needed to choose their own paths. 

VOW for Girls is proud to support grantee partners like Agir Plus, who are investing in girls like Fatouma—girls who are not only rewriting their own futures but reshaping what’s possible for the next generation.

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