Fathers’ Day provides us with the opportunity to show our love and appreciation by honouring the dads and father-figures in our lives and communities. It’s especially not easy when you don’t have a dad to care for you and the family.
This Fathers’ Day it is our privilege to share a few of the stories of some of the beautiful students who attend our education centres. We love these kids supporting not only their learning, but caring and providing for their health and wellbeing with a daily meal, counselling and emotional support as they face some very difficult circumstances - which are compounded by the poverty that impacts them daily.
2 years ago Mariyam’s father died due to heart disease. Through her hard work at school she now wants to honour her father by achieving her dreams and making him proud.
Meet Mariyam a 14-year-old, who studies at our City Centre School. Mariyam has 4 siblings, her father died of heart disease when she was just 12 years old and her mother Najmeen is struggling to care for her family. Mariyam's father used to sell vegetables and was the sole provider for the family. In India it is difficult for woman within rural communities to find employment due to a lack of education and opportunities. Najmeen begun to work as a maid for wealthier families but this has not been enough to care for her 5 children and without the support of the Project Help Education Centre it is unlikely that Mariyam would ever have had the opportunity to attend school and receive an education.
Mariyam has received counselling, she has told us that she misses her father. She has said that if he was still alive, he would have done anything for Mariyam and her siblings if they wanted ice cream, he would have purchased it. If she wanted a doll or a dress... He would have purchased it.
Mariyam has said that despite their financial position her father sacrificed everything for their family and only wanted to see his children happy.
Mariyam has great dreams and aspirations, now she wants to honour her father by achieving her dreams and making him proud. Since Mariyam joined our education centre she has enjoy exploring new passions and dreaming of the future. Her interest in her studies have increased and her teachers have said that she likes to ask them many questions. We look forward to seeing her bright future and we know that her father would be proud.