TETE, Mozambique — At Bagamoyo village in central Mozambique, an amused crowd broke into laughter as a young girl described how bald, potbellied men were threatening the future of her generation, following reports that they were swarming villages hunting for brides.
Her presentation is based on a poster that the Princess Girls Club of 9- to 13-year-olds was using to learn about their sexual and reproductive health rights, while lobbying local leaders to protect these rights.
On this calm morning, the lessons were echoing around one key issue — rejecting early pregnancies and getting married off by their parents or relatives before completing school and landing a good job for themselves.