Sanam’s brother wouldn’t hear of her going to school. He refused to give her money for fees, insisting that there was absolutely no point in her studying. Her only future was to get married, after all… what would she need English, math and science for? Sanam’s mother argued with her husband and ultimately secured Sanam permission to enroll at the DIL school. After school is over, Sanam cleans and sweeps at other people’s homes. Her mother makes a living by stitching clothes.

Despite her difficult childhood, Sanam dreams of eventually becoming a doctor. When we first asked her how she intended to pursue training in medicine since she can’t travel far away from home to study and her own village doesn’t even have a clinic, let alone a medical college. She smiled and replied, “Well, if someone teaches us, we’ll learn, won’t we?”

When the DIL team visited Khairpur in March 2003, Sanam was attending sixth grade at the Advanced School in Khuhra. Her teacher told us that Sanam was her brightest student. However, when we asked Sanam if she still plans to do medicine, tears began to roll down her eyes. Wiping them away she responded, “I want to, but now I am not so sure I can. My parents are so poor that they can’t even pay for my uniform.”

Having passed class 8 from Model School Sobhodero, Sanam is now attending class 9 at the Govt. Girls High School Sobhodero. She is performing well academically and participates regularly in extra-curricular activities. Due to the generosity of a DIL supporter, Sanam’s school expenses have been completely paid for.