Rashedul Islam is from Rangpur in North West Bangladesh. He lives with his grandmother, aunt, cousin and little sister in a one-room house with a tin roof and no electricity; they use a small yard by the house for cooking.
Thanks to Islamic Relief’s One to One Sponsorship Programme he studies in Class 7 at Vangni Ahmadia Dimukhi Senior Fazil Madrasa. His day starts with the Fajr prayer after which he has breakfast; by the time school starts at 10 am Rashedul has already attended a private tuition class which starts at 7.30 am. After school and a break he has a second tuition class which lasts till 10pm. By 11pm he is asleep in bed. Rashedul is a bright boy and an attentive student.
Life wasn’t always this way for Rashedul. At the age of four Rashedul faced the trauma of losing his father.
His mother was left to sustain him and his sister through working as a household servant.
Rashedul was able to go to school and enjoyed studying until his mother married again and began to live separately. Rashedul’s stepfather was unable to pay for his education which meant that Rashedul could no longer go to school. His grandmother then became responsible for Rashedul but with the advance of years she could not support the family thus forcing Rashedul again to leave school.
At this point in Rashedul’s life he became registered with Islamic Relief’s One to One Sponsorship Program. This not only enabled him to return school but also take private tuition lessons, visit the monthly Health Camp provided for by Islamic Relief and also receive food and clothing.
Rashedul dreams of one day becoming a doctor so that he can help others just as he was helped by a donor for whom Rashedul expresses gratitude and for whose well being he prays.
Find out more about Islamic Relief's Orphan Sponsorship programme
Find out more about Islamic Relief in Bangladesh
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