- Aria Mustary's mother was a child bride at 16, and Aria's father tried to marry her off at 12.
- Mustary urged her mother to leave the oppressive environment they both grew up in.
Syeda Mustary was only 16 years old when she was married to a man at least a decade older. She had just finished her first round of metrics exams in Bangladesh before her "fate was sealed" — as it was for many other girls in her homeland. Two years later, she came to the United States with her new husband and dreams of learning to drive, continuing her education, and working in this new country. Instead, she found herself unemployed and in a strained marriage with two daughters, constantly worrying about whether there would be enough money for diapers and food.
History has a way of repeating itself. When Syeda's eldest daughter, Aria Mustary, was 12, her dad tried to marry her off to a first cousin who was twice her age because Aria was "rebellious" and "uncontrollable," and they had limited resources to look after her.
"When my younger sister was born, I became hyperaware of my surroundings. I saw how my mom basically was a child herself taking care of children, and I became her protector. I begged my mom to divorce him and leave the oppressive environment. Enough was enough," Aria Mustary told Insider.
Syeda eventually left her husband in 2013, moving Aria and her younger sister to another apartment within Queens, New York. They had little money but hope for a more promising future. Syeda worked multiple jobs in fast food, retail, and more to make ends meet. She eventually started her own small fabric business from the teachings of all of her unpaid labor over the years and was able to make enough money to keep the girls out of poverty.
Child marriages are prevalent globally: UNICEF estimates that every year, at least 12 million girls are married before they reach the age of 18, especially in cultures where they have limited access to education, healthcare, and economic status. But this isn't just restricted to countries abroad. In the US, child marriage is still prevalent — UNICEF USA reports that 44 states still allow girls under 18 to marry "under certain circumstances."
It affects more girls than boys
"Child marriage disproportionately impacts girls versus boys. Families who marry their children early may believe that this practice will be protective of their future by reducing financial burdens," Anjali Ferguson, a licensed psychologist and children's book author, told Insider.
Ferguson said child marriage affects children's physical and emotional health. Adolescent pregnancies are often high risk and can lead to complications during childbirth, perpetuating a system of financial dependence and oftentimes poverty, an increase in domestic violence, and a lack of education because of high dropout rates.
The problems surrounding child marriage are nothing new, but recent advocacy by leaders like Michelle Obama, Amal Clooney, and Melinda Gates has finally given the issue some traction in the media.
Aria Mustary recognized that poverty and being considered a financial burden was the driving factor for the female figures in her life — like her mom and aunts — who were forced to wed; families that are financially insecure believe that they will be less burdened if they don't need to support their daughters. It's a cyclical process rooted in gender inequality and a lack of autonomy for women.
"If parents had a better option for their daughters, they would not marry them," Mustary said. "Based on my personal life, I wanted to create a program to help young girls secure their own education, have financial literacy, open bank accounts, and create incentives for families so they don't resort to marriage."
She started a foundation to help girls like her
So Mustary and her cofounder Aaron Wendell started the Mai Soli Foundation (mai soli means "never alone" in Italian). The foundation applies a holistic approach to teach high-risk girls under the age of 18 how to be self-sufficient.
They partner with local schools to identify high-risk girls, tackle the root financial issues, and tap into their potential with mentorship, education, and entrepreneurship to allow them to take ownership of their futures. The families become involved when girls enter the program, so all parties know the guidance their daughters are receiving and how they will use these skills to become autonomous.
They teach the girls financial literacy, entrepreneurship, leadership, and confidence. Once families recognize that their daughters are helping their financial situation, the Foundation urges them to continue their schooling instead of getting married.
"These girls have friends or cousins that have been married young. They know what's going to happen to them if they don't find a way out. We assign 10 girls to a mentor and teach them how to voice concerns, gain financial independence, and learn basic life skills," Mustary said.
Though Mai Soli Foundation currently operates in select regions in Bangladesh, Mustary aspires to expand to other areas in South Asia, including Nepal and India, in the next few years, with the goal of reaching 5,000 girls.
"Our mission is just to create a world without child marriage," she said. "These girls can ignite change if they have the opportunity."