Help End Child Marriage and Rescue Young Brides

When Iman was 8 years old, her father married her off to an older man in exchange for money. For 20 days and 20 nights, her "husband" unleashed constant abuse, both physically and psychologically. He beat her and he raped her over and over again until young Iman had no other choice except to risk everything to escape.

When the time was right, she jumped off of a two story roof and ran for 3 straight hours to get as far away as she could. She found refuge with a poor woman who was willing to provide her shelter. It was this act of courage that gave Iman a chance at life.

When her husband found out, he demanded that her father track her down and return his child-bride or reimburse the money that he had paid for her. The father had already spent the money and instead offered Iman's younger sister Aman, who is only 7, as an alternative.

Fearing the same fate, Aman also ran away and joined her sister with the woman who had taken her in. Unfortunately, Iman is still not free of this nightmare. She remains legally married to this man and could be forced to return to him.

We have been working closely with sources inside Yemen who have been dealing with these kinds of cases involving forced child marriage for over 15 years. The reality of the court system in Yemen is that Iman has no path to seek divorce from this man without returning the money that her father received.

That is why we are asking for your help. No child should be subjected to being sold off as a piece of property to a man multiple times her age. A child cannot consent to such things and there is no excuse that could justify robbing a child of their innocence and subjecting them to this level of cruelty.

You can make a difference for Iman and other girls who suffer the same fate on a daily basis. You can show them that they are not alone and that humanity has not forgotten them. Your kindness gives them hope that there is an alternative and a better future ahead.

* Refuge Restored is a non-profit organization that strives to provide rapid assistance to those in immediate need. Everything that we receive from your donations will go directly to Iman and other child brides in Yemen who desperately need someone to stand up for them, when no one else will.