The runaway child bride who changed a village

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The stories of two women who know how to put up a good fight. Dorcas Zoogah was raised in a small village in rural Ghana where child marriage was the norm. Her mother was married off as a child, and all her elder sisters were expected to follow the same fate. But when Dorcas turned 15, she made a daring decision - to reject tradition and run away from home. Supported by her mother, Dorcas became the first in her family to attend university and would go on to help other young women get an education, breaking the cycle of child marriage. Through her work and determination, Dorcas has earned the respect of her community and family, who all now look up to her as a role model. Dorcas is now a social activist and part of the 1.8 Billion Young People for Change campaign. Growing up, Paola Diana suffered at the hands of her domineering father. Years later, her trauma fuelled her determination to fight for women's equality as a political lobbyist in Italy. More recently, she's taken her battles to the martial arts mat, in her 40s unexpectedly becoming a champion in Brazilian jiu jitsu. Presenter: Asya Fouks Get in touch: [email protected] (Photo: Dorcas Zoogah. Credit: Dorcas Zoogah)