Faheema - Street Worker

Faheema is a 12 year old girl who collected old bits of plastic and papers from rubbish bins on the streets of Afghanistan. After collecting these bits of rubbish she took them home and used them for fire wood, in order to bake bread for her family. Sometimes, Faheema took the leftovers and tried to sell them onto shops in her village. Faheema didn’t go to school.

Faheema was referred to War Child’s drop-in centre by our outreach workers who found her on the streets.

On arrival, Faheema was covered in dirt, unhygienic and wearing old and torn clothes. Faheema told the family outreach workers that she was sometimes beaten by the other children, especially by boys. Because they are boys, who are more highly valued in Afghanistan, she was afraid to say anything. F also said that she could not see life ever improving for her as she could not afford the time or the money to go to school.

The drop-in centre has turned Faheema’s life around. At the centre, she is able to go to literacy, numeracy and hygiene education classes and she can also use the children’s club, where there are toys and games for the children who often have no fun in their lives.

The family outreach workers regularly meet with Faheema to analyze her situation and see what they can do to help her. They have been in touch with her family and have discussed ways of helping them to improve their financial situation so now, they no longer send Faheema out on the streets to collect rubbish. The help Faheema has been able to receive from the drop-in centre and the family outreach workers have made significant changes to her life. She is more confident in herself now and is learning new skills.

The family outreach workers will continue to look out for Faheema and work with her family. They hope one day that she will attend mainstream school and make friends with other children.