TakePart
Audience
members were captivated as the play unfolded around the story of a
young girl forced into marriage and the struggles of life as a child
bride. By the end, several were weeping openly and many resolved to
protect their daughters from the same fate.
Theater
is certainly an effective way to shed light on an issue few want to
discuss—and Pakistan-based nonprofit Sujag Sansar Organization, which
promotes women’s rights, especially via anti–child marriage efforts in Dadu District, helms these performances. But what makes SSO notable is that it’s mostly men who are standing up for women;
seven out of 10 board members and 200 of the 300 volunteers are
male. The reason: Cultural traditions discourage women from working
outside the home, according to Mashooque Birhamani, SSO’s chief
executive officer. While he hopes this will change one day, male
community members are stepping up in the meantime.
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