Jannatul Ferdous Surraiya: Journey Towards Dream

Jannatul Ferdous Surraiya, a 14 years old girl from Baliadanga, Jashore Municipality, Jashore, was forced to drop out of school due to her family's financial difficulties. Her father, Raju Bepari, used to run a tea stall, while her mother, Dolna Begum, worked in a motorcycle parts factory. The family was doing fairly well until her father’s illness during COVID-19 pandemic hit, forcing her father to shut down his business.

To meet the dowry for her elder sister's wedding, her elder brother had borrowed a substantial amount of money. Unable to repay the loan, he fled to Dhaka, leaving his mother burdened with the debt. With the added pressure of her father's medical expenses and household expenses, Surraiya's mother found it difficult to manage.

To alleviate the financial burden, Surraiya was forced to quit school and start working at a tea stall. She often faced harassment from local boys but continued to work to support her family.

One day, an ARKTF field worker met Surraiya and learned about her situation. Assured by the field worker that she would be helped, Surraiya was hesitant, having heard similar promises before. However, to her surprise, her former school Head Master and the ARKTF worker visited her workplace. The Head Master assured Surraiya that all her educational expenses would be covered.

Overjoyed, Surraiya resumed her studies. She has since passed her 7th grade exams and is now in the 8th grade. Grateful for ARKTF's support, she aspires to become a doctor, believing it's a noble profession that allows her to serve others.