Sakina

Sakina, a 48 year old widow, mother of 7 children ages 11 to 25, has been struggling to make both ends meet after her husband, a retired peon at a government agency, passed away in the month of Ramadan of 2005. The 3 marriage eligible daughters (25, 23 and 21) are unable to complete their education beyond 10th grade because of financial problems. Only one daughter is working at a local hospital bringing in Rs. 1,900 per month. This meager amount, combined with her husband's pension of Rs. 1,500 and some assistance brings her Rs. 3,300 per month ($55), which is not enough to run a household of 8. The youngest daughter, age 16, is in 9th grade, while her 14 year old son who attends 8th grade at a public school, has also learned how to operate a lathe machine. The youngest boy, an 11 year old 5th grader, is longing for a bicycle to ride to school.