Sola

“I’ve always wanted to be independent, so I only agreed to go because they said my grandma was sick. It wasn’t true; when I got there they showed me new clothes and jewellery and said the wedding would be at the end of the week. They knew I’d be isolated when I got there because I’m deaf.”

Sola’s family had not learnt sign language and found it difficult to communicate with her. When she told them her plans for moving away to study at university, they decided it would be better for her if she got married instead – but didn’t ask her. Luckily Sola had a mobile phone her family didn’t know about, and she used it to text friends in the UK, who alerted the FMU. The British Embassy helped her to return. She is now at university and has no contact with her family.