“When a child has not made 18 years and you marry her off … don’t bother to invite me! I will not come”: the role and involvement of faith leaders’ wives in child protection issues

This chapter explores the often-overlooked role of faith leaders’ wives as influential local actors in child protection, drawing on research from World Vision’s Channels of Hope (CoH) programme in Senegal and Uganda. While these women are commonly seen only as spouses, findings show they are respected figures in their communities with distinct spheres of influence. Through CoH training, many became proactive agents of change, launching individual, family, and community-level initiatives to improve child wellbeing. Despite facing significant challenges — particularly when confronting harmful social norms like corporal punishment and child marriage — their efforts highlight how informal actors can bridge gaps between formal child protection systems and community practices. Their dual identity as both respected faith community members and everyday women allows them to navigate cultural complexities and foster grassroots shifts in attitudes and behaviors toward children’s rights and protection.