Help Launch Dola’s Next Chapter!

Supporting a Voice for Change: Help Launch Dola’s Next Chapter in the U.S.

Meet Dola

Dola grew up in a rural village in Bangladesh, where child marriage was a common reality threatening the futures of many girls. From a young age, Dola refused to accept this as normal. At just 10 years old, she bravely raised her voice against child marriage through World Vision’s Child Forums, becoming a leading advocate in her community. Her courage helped prevent more than 600 child marriages in Bangladesh. Since being a sponsored child, Dola has stayed actively connected with World Vision, continuing to partner with them to advocate for children’s rights and community empowerment.

Dola’s advocacy captured international attention when she addressed the United Nations on the International Day of the Girl in 2019, where she told the world: "Girls are not a burden. Girls can go further than we imagined."

Despite facing threats and pressure, Dola has never wavered. She has inspired communities and leaders to rethink harmful traditions and prioritize girls’ education and empowerment. Her work has been recognized widely.

Now, Dola is preparing to take her next big step: beginning her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications at the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) (Honors College) this fall. Her dream is to become a professional communicator and global advocate for child rights.

What We’re Raising

This campaign will help cover some of Dola’s essential first-semester costs including her flight to the U.S., textbooks, school supplies, and some of her on-campus housing and meal plan.

➡️ Any funds raised above the goal will go directly toward Dola’s tuition.

Dola plans to find a part-time campus job as soon as she is eligible to help cover her ongoing costs.

How You Can Help

• Donate: Every contribution helps cover Dola’s essential costs.

• Share: Please share this campaign with your networks.

• Encourage: Leave a message for Dola — your words matter.

Why This Matters

For years, Dola has given her time, energy, and voice to the global movement to end violence against children and protect the rights of girls. She has spoken on international stages, influenced global policy, stood up for the rights of children in her community, and helped spark lasting change — all as a young woman facing her own unique hardships, including the loss of her mother.

Now, it’s our turn to give back. This campaign is a way for those who have been inspired by Dola’s story to support her future. We believe in her, and we trust that the impact she makes through her education will ripple across borders and generations.

By supporting Dola, you're investing in more than one student. You’re amplifying a voice that has already changed lives — and will continue to do so with the education and tools she needs.

Let’s help Dola take this next step — and keep making the world a better, more just place.