In Jordan camp, Syrian refugees choose school over child marriage

Refugee girls taking part in awareness-raising activities at the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Led (AGEL) centre at the Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees in Jordan in October. Photos: Khalil Mazraawi/AFP

Chatting enthusiastically in a classroom at the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan, a group of Syrian teenage girls share stories about married friends – some with babies already, and of their own lucky escapes.

Fatima was 14 when she got engaged, but had second thoughts and broke it off. Sixteen-year-old Borouj said she had confronted her friend's older brother when he had tried to marry off his sister.