Sabrine is 11 years old who is currently enrolled in school. Here is here story:

My name is Sabrine and I am eleven years old. Today I am in the third grade at one of the New School Program’s (NSP) multi-grade schools, or schools which are similar to community schools. A few years back, however, I was not in school at all. I would like to tell you my story so that no one else has to go through what I have been through.

I was born in Al-Fint village in the Bani Suef governorate of . My father had five daughters from his first wife, and I am the sixth of seven girls. He married my mother in hopes of having a son to make him proud, but he never got that son and as a result he got ill and eventually died. My father was a poor man and upon his death, he had not left enough for us to support ourselves. Because of this, my mother, my sisters and I had to work. Under these circumstances getting an education or going to school was simply out of the question. Eventually, most of my sisters got married, but there still remained my mother, my stepmother, my younger sister and myself. The workload was divided between my mother and I, so I worked mostly in the fields clearing weeds and other harmful plant growth. During the harvesting season I also worked with others.

One day I met with a friend of mine and Miss Hoda, a school teacher. My friend had asked me why I no longer came to visit her and play together. I explained that I had to work alongside my mother to help support my family, saying that “This is the only way my little sister can go to school”. Miss Hoda asked me whether I would want to go to school myself. I told her that it is too late for me now as I am too old for school. Besides, I had already agreed with my mother that I would work so my sister could go to school. Miss Hoda told me that it is not too late for me and that the multi-grade schools give children my age a second chance to pursue an education. I was concerned, however, that I would not be able to afford it, but Miss Hoda reassured me that there would be no cost involved and that the school was in the afternoon which meant that I could work and study at the same time. I became so happy that day that I could not even sleep. I kept imagining the way it would look and what the school would actually be like. The following morning, however, my mother refused to send me to school. I cried very hard but she continued to refuse.

That same afternoon, I went to Miss Hoda’s house and told her what had happened with my mother. She told me not to worry and the following day, Miss Hoda and Mr. Mohamed, another teacher from our village who is part of the Education team established by NSP, met with my mother and explained the NSP project to her. She said that it was too late for me to go to school and she was skeptical about the benefit of an education for a girl. “ A girl is for marriage and not education” she told them. Miss Hoda told her that education is useful not only for the girl, but also for the community. She also explained to my mother that her education and job make the people in our village love and respect her. They kept trying to reason with her until finally she agreed to let me go to school. There was, however, one more obstacle that remained: I did not have a birth certificate. I thought that this was the end and I was not meant to get an education, but Miss Hoda assured me that I had nothing to worry about. She took many papers from my mother and helped me get my birth certificate issued. Finally, I was able to attend school and sit for my exams.

For the first time ever, I felt that I was a human being. The teacher respected me and taught me how to have dignity and character. She also taught me how to read and write, how to take care of my health and how to strike a balance between my work and my studies. Everyday I look at myself in the mirror and I feel that I look different. I decided never to give up on school, no matter what, but instead to work very hard and study very hard.

This year I ranked first in my school and also received an encouragement award of $35 from the governor of Bani Suef. My teachers tell me that this award is given only to very good students. People in the village are also very proud of me because I ranked first among all the district students in our exams.

Thank you for visiting our fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor us online.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us: CARE International UK will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

So please sponsor us now!

Many thanks for your support.

Regards,

Team 20 of the 2006 event