Sanjida Sheikh

I come from a village in Chandpur. One year, there was severe shortage of work and food in our village and my father decided to come to Dhaka city searching for a job. He was not able to find any other work other than being a day laborer, as he does not have any skill. He also does not know how to read or write. It was not enough to support our family with his earning alone, so my Mother also started working. She now works as a cleaner in the local hospital.

I always wanted to study, but given our situation, it was not possible for me to think about education. Luckily we were staying in the area that is served by Alok School. I started coming to this school when I was in Kindergarten. Now I am in class 5 in the same school. I feel like the school and my friends and teacher are my family. Both my parents spent long time outside of home as both of them are working. I spent most of my time here in school, even after my classes are done, as I have no other safe place to go.

My brother is studying in a local college and he comes to Alok school to get help with his studies after his classes are done. He also studied in the same school what he was my age. Maybe because of this, or maybe because my results are very good, all my teachers love me very much. So when I am at school I don't feel like I am away from family.

I like to study but I like the drawing class and the music class even more. But the best time I have in school when we get to use laptop or tablet to do Math classes using Khan Academy.

When I grow up, I want to join the police force. I like to think that I can punish all the bad people around me so that my family, friends and country can live in peace.

Sanjida Sheikh
Grade 5, Alok Shishu Shikhkhaloy

Note: Agami has taken the initiative to establish an endowment fund to provide scholarships and stipends to gifted and talented children like this to pursue their dreams. We are looking for your support. If you long to see a happy ending to stories like this, please send us an email to grants-admin@agami.org with your pledge.