The Big Give Christmas Challenge – Your Donations Doubled on 6th/7th/8th Dec Only

For three days only (6th, 7th and 8th December 2012 only) all donations towards FORWARD’s work with child mothers in Tanzania will be doubled! Yes that’s right, your donation is worth double! Every £1 that is donated online to FORWARD through [The Big Give Christmas Challenge](http://new.thebiggive.org.uk/projects/view/16991?search=eb5d8c62-6e75-472a-88ed-dd2a43b46972) will actually be worth £2 to FORWARD (plus more if you gift aid your donation!.

What is the Big Give Christmas Challenge?

FORWARD was selected to participate in the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2012, an online funding event in which donations from the public are matched. Firstly pledges are made (FORWARD reached £2,000 in advance pledges) and then for the three mornings only (6th, 7th and 8th December), online donations to participating charities are matched by the Big Give’s partners and the charities’ own major donors and supporters.

How exactly does it work?

Donations can be made online from 10am on Thursday 6 December, Friday 7 December and Saturday 8 December. During this time your donation will be matched by a combination of the previous pledges donated by our donors and supporters and the Big Give’s Philanthropist Fund. So if you donate £15 during the Christmas Challenge, a further £15 will be released from the matching funds to double your donation!

When should I make my donation during the Christmas Challenge?

Matched funds will be released at 10am on the morning of the 6th, 7th and 8th December. The challenge is that many charities will be competing for the matched funding at the same time and on the same days, the ideal time to gain as many funds as possible for FORWARD would be around 10am on all three mornings. The Christmas Challenge will end once all of the matched funds have been exhausted. In the event that matched funds continue to remain available, the Christmas Challenge will finally close on 19th December at 5pm.

Where should I make my online donation during the Christmas Challenge?

Please visit this link to make online donations [The Big Give Christmas Challenge- Supporting child mothers in Tanzania.](http://new.thebiggive.org.uk/projects/view/16991?search=eb5d8c62-6e75-472a-88ed-dd2a43b46972) Please note that only online donations made to the project selected for the Christmas Challenge will be matched.

What is the project with child mothers about and what difference will my donation make to them?

Child marriage and teenage pregnancy is a major problem in Tanzania. More than 38% of girls are married before 18 years because it is legal to marry at 14yrs in Tanzania. Girls face many risks to their health and well-being by being married at such a young age. Pregnant girls are more likely to experience complications in childbirth which can lead to [obstetric fistula](https://forwarduk.org.uk/key-issues/fistula) and increased rates of infant and maternal deaths.

*“I didn’t go to school, after my FGM my father forced me to marry at the age of 12″* young girl,Tanzania

Many married girls drop out of school or are forced to leave and fail to acquire basic education skills. They are less likely to have access to information on child development and parenting skills. Many experience domestic violence due to their young age. With limited access to education, livelihood options, and early and multiple pregnancies, the majority of these girls face a life of increased poverty and ill-health.

FORWARD is working with Children’s Dignity Forum (CDF), a Tanzanian local organisation to support child mothers. Our project will enable child mothers to increase their skills and knowledge of their rights and provide livelihood options. The project will help the girls set up networks, leadership and business skills training and will provide child mothers the opportunity to return to education.

Please visit the [Big Give Christmas Challenge](http://new.thebiggive.org.uk/projects/view/16991?search=eb5d8c62-6e75-472a-88ed-dd2a43b46972) for more information and to donate towards giving a brighter future to child brides and child mothers.