A Young Girl’s Journey from Poverty to Hope

Finally, Shanie was done for the day. Exhaustion and hunger clawed at the young girl’s mind and body; unfortunately, this was normal. Shanie should have been in school, learning with her peers. Yet here she was, going to bed hungry and tired from a day of working an adult’s job.

A Childhood of Hardship

Shanie's journey began as she grew up in extreme poverty - her parents were laborers who wove baskets on to ensure the family’s survival. — Shanie, pictured here, is happy that, thanks to GFA World’s Child Sponsorship Program, she could find a better future than what may have been afforded to her otherwise.

Shanie’s journey began as she grew up in extreme poverty. Her parents were both daily laborers who wove bamboo baskets on the side to ensure the family’s survival. Money was difficult to come by, Shanie’s older sister had to drop out of school since their parents were unable to continue paying for enrollment, and they considered taking Shanie out of school as well. It went against what her parents wanted for them: Shanie’s parents wanted their children to have a better life, but the fees were draining them of much-needed income.

Sometimes, Shanie would help her parents weave baskets, skipping school to help earn a little extra money. Would this be her future, working constantly, like her parents, and still going to bed hungry? Shanie wanted to complete her education, but no one from her village had ever gone on to higher education. In fact, virtually no other children in Shanie’s village were even enrolled in school—and it seemed it would stay that way…

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