Firdoas

Firdoas, a 35 years old widow with only a fifth grade education must support her 6 children. They live in a two-bedroom home, which is unstable because termites have damaged the ceiling/roof significantly. She earns Rs. 2,000 a month ($33) through stitching and embroidery. Her eldest daughter, now seventeen, had stopped going to school once she reached 5th grade. Her second daughter is attending 6th grade, while her 12 year old son, a 7th grader, comes to Hidaya's local office to learn English six days a week. He pulls in additional double duty by selling chick peas (garbanzo beans) in his neighborhood to bring in 2 - 6 Rupees per day, and by working at clinic for four hours in the evening to learn how to give injections. For his work, the clinic pays him 260 Rupees a month ($4.50). Like other boys of his, he wants to save enough money to purchase a bicycle for his daily commute between school and jobs. Firdoas' youngest boy - a 9 year old is brilliant for his age; he was able to solve several math problems beyond his 3rd grade level. Next is the six year old girl, who attends 1st grade; she does not have any toys and would love to have a doll to play with. The youngest child, a four year old boy is not of school age as yet. Firdoas has an old sewing machine at home; which she plans to use for stitching clothes for Hidaya Foundation. These clothes are donated by Hidaya to other poor families.