When the DIL team visited the Sojhro Junior School Mohammad at village Sagyoon earlier this year, one bright-eyed young girl stood out from the crowd. She would raise her hand enthusiastically each time we asked the class to solve a math problem or spell an English word.

Zulaikha Mallah is the most intelligent girl in her class. It was only a year and a half ago that Zulaikha, then 6 years old, would come to this school regularly not to study but to sell carrots to the students during break time. Her poor parents could not afford to pay for even the most basic necessities required to send a child to school, in addition they needed the few pennies Zulaikha raised from selling carrots to supplement the family income.

Recognizing how bright little Zulaikha was, the teacher met with her parents and insisted that she start attending classes immediately. “Of course, she would be permitted to sell carrots at break time,” she told the parents.

Zulaikha wants to grow up to be a doctor and serve the poor needy village

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