More Precious Than Pearls: The Fight to Save Girls from Child Marriage

In Madagascar, a young girl stands at the doorway of her home, stirring a pot over an open fire. She is only nine years old, yet today, a man will come offering her family a cow in exchange for her hand in marriage. Without question, her parents will accept. To them, a cow means survival—more valuable than the dreams or future of their daughter.

This is the heartbreaking reality for many young girls in Madagascar, where forced child marriage is a common practice, especially in rural areas. But through the work of The Perla Project, girls like her are being rescued, restored, and empowered to reclaim their futures.

The Meaning of Perla: A Hidden Treasure

The Perla Project is named after Proverbs 31:10:

"Who can find a virtuous woman? She is more precious than pearls."

In Malagasy, the word for "pearl" is perla—a fitting name for a ministry that seeks to remind women and girls of their God-given worth. Just like pearls, these young girls are treasures—hidden in the depths of hardship, oppression, and cultural norms that threaten to devalue them. But when rescued and given the opportunity to grow, they shine with immeasurable beauty and strength.

Miora Andiambelomanana, the Perla Project Coordinator, has dedicated her life to uncovering these pearls, fighting for the freedom and dignity of young girls at risk of forced marriage, abuse, and exploitation.

A Rescue Story: One Girl’s Courage to Speak

Miora shares the story of a 13-year-old girl from the south of Madagascar who was moments away from being married off in exchange for livestock. Through the efforts of The Perla Project, she was rescued and given the opportunity to continue her education.

At first, her parents resisted. They saw their daughter’s marriage as inevitable, even beneficial. But through persistent conversations and support, they finally relented, allowing her to stay in school. Today, that same girl is not just surviving—she is leading. She runs a children’s ministry in her village, teaching younger boys and girls about their value, their rights, and the love of God.

Perhaps the most powerful part of her story is that she has found her voice. Once voiceless and powerless, she now advocates for other young girls, speaking out against child marriage within her own community. She has become an agent of change, proving that when one life is rescued, the impact multiplies.

Rescue, Restore, Empower: The Three Pillars of Perla

The Perla Project operates through three core pillars:

Prevention – Educating communities, raising awareness in churches and schools, and providing scholarships to keep girls in school. By addressing the root causes of vulnerability, they reduce the risk of child marriage before it happens.
Rescue – Intervening in crisis situations, working with families, local authorities, and faith leaders to stop forced marriages and provide girls with safe alternatives.
Development – Equipping rescued girls with vocational skills, business training, and discipleship so they can build independent futures and become leaders in their communities.

A Call to Prayer

Miora has witnessed incredible transformations, but the work is challenging and urgent. She asks that we join her in prayer for two specific needs:

🙏 Protection and perseverance for rescued girls – Pray that the young women and girls who have come to know Jesus will be strengthened in their faith and protected from forces that seek to pull them back into oppression. Ask God to cover them with His grace so they may continue to walk in freedom.

🙏 More workers with specialized skills – Pray for God to raise up more workers with expertise in social work, counseling, psychology, and legal advocacy. The Perla Project is encountering more cases of vulnerable women and girls, and they need a well-equipped team to navigate the complexities of rescue and restoration.

A Call to Action: How You Can Help

Miora and her team have seen firsthand how these girls are more precious than pearls. But the work is far from over. The need for intervention, education, and empowerment is urgent.

Here’s how you can be part of this movement:

💛 Give Generously – Your support provides education, shelter, and skills training for girls rescued from forced marriages.
🙏 Pray Intentionally – Lift up these young women and the Perla Project team, asking for protection, provision, and transformation.
🚶‍♀️ Challenge Yourself Physically – Join the Freedom Challenge’s upcoming events to push your limits while raising funds and awareness for this cause.

Miora’s journey—and the countless girls she has helped rescue—reminds us that every life is valuable, and every girl deserves the chance to thrive. Like pearls hidden in the depths, their worth is immeasurable.

Together, we can uncover their brilliance and set them on a pathway to freedom.

👉 Listen to the full podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/842389/episodes/16727765

👉 Watch the interview: https://youtu.be/kcou3SZhesY