The Children's Project

When Uncle asked me “What is the first thing I remember”, I thought back and saw the first thing that I remember is my father drinking and beating my mother. Everyday my father used to drink and shout at my mother. I always felt sad and afraid. I thought he would kill my mother. We lived in a tent made out of Saree’s (women’s dresses).

I can also remember that my mother used to take me on her hip and beg for food and money. When I could walk she used to send me to buildings to ask the people who lived there for food. I did not know how to talk so other children would ask for me. If we were very hungry we would eat the food on the road.

I was also sent out of our tent to collect paper and plastic which we would take to the garbage dump and we would get paid depending how much we collected. I would carry a sack on my back and pick through mounds of garbage to find a few scraps we could resell at the dump.

I became very sick. I was ill for 3 months. I never went to the doctor. I felt very weak. I was eating very little and it was hard to walk.

At this time someone, I can’t remember who, took me to a residential learning school. I stayed in this school for one year on and off. I would stay in the school for a few months and then I would go home for a few months, then I would go back to school and come home again for a few months. I was four years old at this time. When I was at home my mother was usually out somewhere collecting papers and begging. I was left alone. Sometimes I would go to my older sisters house. She was married. My uncle also lived there. He would play with me and then take me in another room. He then would pull up my dress and do wrong things with me. He made it seem like a game and so I didn’t know anything was wrong. He would then try and do this every day while I was home. His brother would also do this to me. This would happen every time I would come home from school.

After one year I was sent out of school; they said no one paid the fees. My mother took me to a foreign woman’s home and asked her if she would put me in school and pay for me. This woman agreed and looked for another school. I liked the new school more than my first school. There were some nice children to play with. But after a little while I did not like it anymore. There were two older boys there who used to do the same wrong things to me. We were always left all alone in the room and school with no teachers or principle or anybody. These boys would hide behind the door and when I came into the room they would close the door and catch me. I would try to scream for help but they would cover my mouth with their hands and force me to be still while they did what they wanted. I never told because I was ashamed and didn’t want to cause trouble. This would happen whenever nobody was at the school, usually every weekend. After a few years my small sister came to join me at the school. The same thing happened to her. She was about 4 when this happened.

Once a year I would go back with my mother. When I was with my mother I used to go for begging. I would also look after pigs. There were also two other men who would do wrong things to me when I was with my mother. I don’t know who they are.

I knew Michael Uncle (Michael Galligan) because he used to bring me gifts and clothes and was paying for my sister and I to be in school. I thought he was a very nice man and I like him very much. He would come and visit and take us out to play. He would bring us games and balls and play with us in the school.

I was very unhappy at school during this time because of the treatment from the boys and because the principle was beating me. I was treated like a servant by the principle’s family. I had to wash all the floors, I had to carry water, wash all the dishes, and wash all the clothes. The principle had two daughters and they never had to do any work. They spent all their time studying and playing while I spent all my time cleaning the school. If I would spill the water or didn’t do the work fast enough the principle would beat me. He would also pick me up by my ears.

We were NEVER allowed to go outside and we NEVER played any games, except when Michael Uncle would come and make our principle let us play. We also lived in a room that was like a small closet. It was wet and smelled bad.

I had been to visit Children’s Project School with Michael Uncle before. I was very happy when I came to visit. They had good food and everybody was happy. I felt a lot of love when I came there and we played games and danced. I wished I could live there instead of the school where I was. I was afraid to tell anyone my problems at the other school. Uncle told me to wait for some time until the school year ended at my other school. After that I could come. He wanted me to finish the year and tests at my other school. As soon as I finished those tests I packed my bags along with my sister and 2 other girls form the school and left my school and came to live with Aunty and Uncle at Children’s Project Home and School. I felt so happy to leave my other school and come here. Uncle welcomed us all with a big hug and told us how happy he was that we were here. A few days later my mother came and uncle let her stay for a few nights so we could spend some time together. Uncle also gave her a big bag of rice and food because she looked so thin and weak.

I became happier day by day because I felt loved and cared for. Our school program was also very nice and we learned not to fight and how to respect each other and how to love each other. We all learned to work together, take care of our chores and to help each other study. We learned to sing many songs and to dance. I was also happy because my sister was in a good place. Every night our teachers and Aunty and Uncle give us hugs and kisses and tell us good night. We are always getting hugs and so we feel very loved. Uncle and Aunty always eat with us and check on the cooking to make sure it is good for us. We also go on field trips sometimes. We all feel very safe and happy here and know that we have a future.

When I first came here, although I had been in school for 5 years and was 10 years old, I only knew the alphabet and could spell a few words only. Now I am in the fourth grade and can read and spell very well. I can also speak very well. I was fourth in my class and my total score for all subjects was 84%.

We also play sports everyday, like cricket and badminton. We also have educational games and tournaments which are very fun. We have some dogs too and we all love them very much. They are our good friends and protect us very well.

At this time I feel I don’t want to get married. I want to stay with Aunty and Uncle forever and teach and help other very poor children who come in the future. I am very happy here and this is my family. I know I will grow up strong and bright and my sister will too.