Nena's Story

​My name is Nena Kumari. I belong to Menghwar community from rural Sindh. I am 10 years old and I study in a PEP school. My father's name is Hero and he is a hand pump mechanic. I am the youngest in my family and the first one out of six siblings to go to a school.

My Childhood:
When I was born, my parents were not very happy because I was a girl, but they had to take care of me. When I was growing up, I started helping my mom in taking care of the house. My parents were happy with me until one day I requested them for letting me go to a school.
One day I saw some boys going to school and I peeped through the school window to see what they were learning. I saw that the teacher was using different objects to teach the children which amazed me. I asked my mom if I could join  school, but she said no.
I was upset and confused and thought maybe I can talk to my father. When he said that I could go I was very happy, but my mom was not happy with the idea of me going to a school and she tried to convince my father that she needed me at home for work.
My father didn't want to stop me because he thought I was irrational and he was much convinced that a few days I might stop going to school by myself. But I continued and I am still studying.

In School:
I remember the first day of my school, I was very happy because the teacher taught lessons through actions, songs, on mud and played games. It was difficult for me to understand first because our teacher taught us in English, but I remember I had started learning to speak broken English in a few months. I was committed with myself that every day I would come to School and learn new words. As I learned to read and write I was able enough to speak in English. My parents could not believe that I was learning so much and when other girls saw me coming to school, some more 15 to 20 girls started coming too.

​In our School we have an girls Aflatoun group, of which I am the leader. Every week we arrange a meeting to learn about  our problems and how to use our savings properly. I remember my father telling me once that he didn't have money for my School fees and I might have to leave the school. But because of the Aflatoun savings, I told my father that he didn't have to worry about giving my fees. When I paid my own fees my father felt very proud of what I did. That was the day when my father realized the importance of education.
After School when I come at my home do my lunch and teach my older sisters as well.  They don't go to a school but they want to learn to read and write. In the evenings I also help my mom to cut grass from field.

Women Empowerment group:
In our village PEP has started a group as "Women Empowerment Group." I also join that group once a month for awareness and importance of education especially for girls. I know it is difficult to encourage the older women but I sit with them and share my thoughts.
 
My Aim in my life:
Everybody dreams but there are only some people who actually follow their dreams. My dream is to become a TEACHER. The reason why I want to be a teacher is that In our village, people don’t want to send their daughters to school and they are thinking giving education for girls is not important and they don't need it because there first priority is work at home. I have to show all of them through my education and being a teacher. I will teach in this School and also be a role model for villagers and girls. 

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