Shibani Mollik Kotha
(Mohakhali Sattala Slum, Dhaka)
Kotha is a cheerful and bright young girl studying in Class 1. She currently lives with her mother, baby sister, grandparents, aunt, and her three cousins at her grandparents’ house. Her father, who works as a cleaner, had to send them there because it was too difficult to manage living costs on his limited income. Kotha’s family is large, but only her father and grandmother are able to support the household. Her grandfather is unable to work after suffering a stroke, and her mother stays home to care for Kotha’s one-year-old sister. Her aunt and cousins also live with them but cannot contribute financially. Despite these challenges, Kotha’s mother is determined to keep her in school and give her the chance at a better future. However, the family’s struggles make it very hard to cover her education costs. A sponsorship would make a big difference in Kotha’s life and help ease some of the burden her family faces.