Khadiza Akter Tisha
(Mirpur 12 Slum, Dhaka)
Tisha has a twin sister and an elder sister, and all three of them are studying at a madrasa. Her parents are doing everything they can to keep their daughters in school, but the struggle to survive grows harder every day. Tisha’s father drives an auto-rickshaw on rent. If he becomes sick, starts late, or misses a day of work, the rickshaw is rented out to someone else, leaving him with no earnings at all for that day. With such uncertainty, it becomes nearly impossible to manage the family’s expenses. To support the family, Tisha’s mother works as a domestic helper in two households and also tries to earn extra income through tailoring. However, the amount she earns is very small. Although the madrasa has reduced the fees because all three sisters study there, paying even the reduced amount remains a heavy burden. On top of that, after their slum was demolished, the family had to move to a new place where the rent is much higher. Between rent, food, and education expenses, the family is under constant financial pressure. Still, the parents continue to struggle every day so that all three daughters can continue their studies. If Tisha receives a sponsorship, at least one child’s education cost would be covered. This would ease the family’s burden and make it possible for them to continue supporting the education of the other two sisters as well, giving the family hope during these difficult times.