Jamilah

34 year old Jamilah's husband, passed away in 2003, as a result of heart attack at the age of 40. She has two children a 17 year old daughter and a 12 year old son. The family lives with Jamila's brother, who is a laborer and can't even earn enough to support a wife and two children of his own. Jamilah earns 1,800 Rupees ($30.00) a month, working at a local hospital, and another 500 Rupees ($8.50) by working as a housemaid. She pays for the electric and gas bills for her brother's home that is usually 1,700 - 1,800 Rupees per month. This leaves her with barely Rs. 500 to support her family. Though her daughter is in first year of college, aspiring for a Bachelor's degree, she can't even do simple math because she attended the local village schools, which have very poor standards of teaching. Her son, an 8th grader is tutored in English by volunteers in an after-school program, offered by Hidaya Foundation. As a promising, brilliant young child, he is enthusiastic and has a desire to learn; he would love to save up enough money for a bicycle for riding to his school and to the English class at Hidaya's local office. Jamilah tries to earn extra money by stitching clothes for her neighbors, typically Rs. 30 ($0.50), which is all the neighbors can afford to pay.