My father is a laborer and the sole wage earner in my family. We are 7 siblings and there are days when we don’t have food to put on the table. My family is also very conservative. They feel that all opportunities for growth are for the men in the family and do not support education for females. 

My mother is a very strong lady. She stitches clothes, a skill she learnt herself, and brings in additional income for the family. She herself has done her middle and could not pursue her studies further. It was her who took a stand for me and my sisters and got us enrolled in a government school as she wants a different and better life for us. 

I have done my Matric and got good marks. I want to continue with my education and make something of myself and also make some contribution to support my family. 

These are enterprising times and I feel education is not enough. I heard about a skill development course being offered in our village and enrolled in the workshops for the trade of Poultry Farming. Now that I am learning the ins and outs of raising chickens, I hope one day to open a home-based poultry farming business and not let the efforts of my mother go in vain.