Our founder and chair
Nada Al-Ahdal: a great struggle that began in childhood
Her story
In 2013, aged 11, Nada Al-Ahdal fled her home in Yemen to escape a forced marriage, one week before the wedding date. Her refusal to become a child bride was the start of her work for children's rights.
Her decision was shaped by loss in her own family. Her aunt took her own life at 14 after a forced marriage, and her sister tried to do the same at 12.
In her own account, her stand against child marriage, in a community that accepts it, brought her these challenges:
- – The Ministry of the Interior detained her for 10 days because of her stand against child marriage.
- – She was held for 7 hours and prevented from attending the launch of her book in Paris. She was also made to sign a document banning her from appearing in the media.
- – The Houthi group prevented her from travelling to receive her awards and placed her under house arrest in Sana'a.
- – She was abducted by ISIS and held for 14 days.
Despite all this, Nada overcame these challenges and achieved what she set out to do
- She won sympathy around the world and wide media coverage through a video message that was watched 8 million times in under three days and translated into more than 40 languages.
- Her campaign led the Yemeni government to introduce laws criminalising child marriage, and helped set 18 as the minimum age of marriage for girls at the National Dialogue Conference, the reference for Yemen's constitution and laws.
- She took part in the film “I Am Nojoom, Age 10 and Divorced”.
- She founded and leads Nada Foundation for the protection of children's rights to continue her fight for children's rights. Prime Minister Ahmed Obaid bin Daghr supported the idea of the foundation.
Play video: The life march of the girl Nada Al-hdalThe video loads from YouTube when you play it
Nada in the eyes of others
Her story caught the world's attention.
The French publisher Michel Lafon
published her book, Nada Al-Ahdal, which has been translated into several languages.
MBC made a documentary about her
MBC is the most-watched television channel in the Middle East.
The Prime Minister named her “Ambassador of Arab Children and Icon of Yemen”
Arab public figures and organisations have honoured her
and her presence at events has drawn wide attention.
One of the most influential children in the world in 2013
According to the British magazine Toward The Star
Many Arab and international writers have written about her
Their articles tell of her courage and her defence of children's rights.
In 2020 the foundation received the “With and For Girls” award from Purposeful in London, as one of the most impactful organisations in the Middle East and North Africa.
Her recent activities
In the media
- Her first interview, by Skype, in the first weeks of her story
- Her last TV interview before the Ministry of the Interior detained her
- Her return to the media in 2017
- With Dawood Al Sharian in “Eighth” Show on MBC1
- On ABC television
Events and conferences
- Opening speech at the Conference on Violence Against Women, Turkey
- International Conference on Humanitarian Action, Kuwait
Awareness activities and campaigns
- The YouTube series “Child Recruitment”
- “The dangers of the collapse of education in Yemen”
- “The risks of child marriage”
Chair of the board
Nada Foundation is investing in the generation of girls who will rebuild Yemen when the war ends. Its Our Dreams Thrive project reaches out to girls whose lives have been uprooted by child marriage, violence or conflict. Education protects girls' rights and changes traditional attitudes to early marriage. It builds confidence and dignity, and gives girls hope of reaching their dreams. Education is the foundation of social change and economic growth in Yemen. Preparing future leaders, even while the fighting goes on, is the first step towards lasting stability and development in the region.
Nada Al-Ahdal's own website: nadaalahdal.com