International Day of the Girl Child - unwanted second daughter saved from gendercide

Zhen Zhen

This Sunday, October 11, is the International Day of the Girl Child. As we celebrate the beloved women and girls in our lives, let us also remember the 200 million girls worldwide who have been the victims of sex-selective abortion -- girls like 'ZhenZhen' who was almost aborted, but whose life was saved by our 'Save a Girl' campaign.

ZhenZhen's mother was already seven months pregnant when she went to the doctor for an ultrasound to determine whether she was carrying a boy or a girl. Since she already had a three-year-old daughter, her husband and his parents desperately wanted this second child to be a boy. When they were told that the baby was a girl, they were extremely disappointed. Her husband's parents tried to pressure Zhenzhen's mother into aborting her by telling her that they are old and want to see their grandson before they die. Her husband started treating her differently as well. Even people in their village began looking down on her.

ZhenZhen's mother did not know what to do. On one hand, she felt her daughter growing within her every day. On the other hand, she was afraid that no one would welcome her daughter - that she would be rejected even by her own father and her grandparents.

Zhenzhen's mother did not want to abort her daughter. She wanted to give her life, and to raise her up. Fortunately for Zhenzhen and her mother, a 'Save a Girl' campaign fieldworker learned about the situation through our extensive network and intervened. She traveled to Zhenzhen's village, knocked on the door of their humble home and offered hope. She told ZhenZhen's mother that girls are just as precious as boys. She offered Zhenzhen's mother a monthly stipend for a year to empower her to keep her daughter. Zhenzhen's mother gratefully accepted our offer of help. She gave birth to ZhenZhen, a beautiful and healthy baby girl, and is delighted with her new daughter.

Will you help us save women and girls in China? Become a 'GirlSaver'!

In honour of the International Day of the Girl Child, won't you help us save more girls like ZhenZhen? So far, we have saved almost 200 girls, and yet there are millions more who are being aborted just because they are girls. Each one of these girls is infinitely precious. Please help us save them by donating to our "Save a Girl" Campaign.

Learn more about how you can help to save girls here: http://womensrightswithoutfrontiers.org/index.php?nav=give