SONIA

School-time joys

The big grin on Sonia’s face is ample proof that this bright 11-year-old is happy to be back in school. Sonia is at present in Class VI in the local government school. She used to attend regular government school until about two years ago, but her parents made her leave so that she could stay at home and take care of her two younger sisters while her farmer parents went to work. Sonia missed school but she had no choice. “I did not like being at home. School was fun and I missed it a lot,” she says. She adds, “How could I go to school when my mother wanted me to be at home and look after my sisters.”

Her parents are both farmers and have to be away at work in the fields for long hours each day to bring in enough for the family of five. With no other help, they relied mostly on their eldest child, Sonia, to help in the house and with the younger children. Her mother made her discontinue school, so that she could help with cooking and look after her siblings.

When Hand in Hand staff found out, they managed to convince her parents that children should not be kept at home. It was tough but not impossible. By now, her sisters were older, so the family was persuaded to allow all three to attend school together. Now her mother does not need her to stay home and is happy to let her attend school. Sonia’s mother smiles with relief, “I know the girls will be safe together at school.” Sonia’s favourite subject is Tamil but she does not like Mathematics. She already has plans for her future and says smilingly, “I want to stay at school and maybe become a teacher when I grow up. That way I can teach other children in my village to read and write.” Her goals are taking shape, and she is well on her way to a bright tomorrow.