Text only | Plan International Home | Sitemap | FAQ | Contact us

About Plan

What we do

Where we work


•	All Plan offices

•	Asia

•	Eastern and Southern Africa

•	Americas

•	West Africa

•	Virtual villages

You're here > > > > > > >

In her own words

Sehrish is a lovely and confident young girl from a Plan program area in Pakistan. We asked her some questions about life in her village. Please read about her typical day, her thoughts and dreams.

Where are you living?
Could you tell us something about your family?
Could you describe a typical day in your life?
Do you work for the family income?
What kind of clothes do you wear inside the house and outside the house?
Do you have a dream?
What is your favorite subject?
Do you wear a school uniform?
How is the atmosphere in the classroom?
Are there only girls in your class?
Is it okay, if a girl falls in love?
What is important for you in your life?
What would you like to be when you grow up?
Whom do you admire (family, friends, celebrities) and why?
What do you do in your spare-time? What are your habits?
What is your favorite music?
What do you think about the situation in Afghanistan?
What makes you happy?
What makes you sad?
How do friends describe you?
What is your favorite dress?

Where are you living?
I live in a village namely Walana, located in the south of Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, and is at a distance of about 120-km. From village Walana, it takes about one and a half-hour to reach the nearest town. The village Walana consists of about 300 households with a population of around 2000 inhabitants. I live in a small house. The walls of my house are made of cement and brick with a tile and slate roof. The rooms are having a paved floor. As a whole, the house is in a normal stipulation.

Could you tell us something about your family?
I am 12 years old and a student of Class 5th. There are six members in my family, living together in our house. My father is retired army personnel and now working as a farmer in the village. My mother is a housewife. I have two elder brothers, Shehzad, who is 20 and an army soldier, and Sohail, who is 22 but still unemployed. My sister Saima, 15 years old and has completed her primary education, now helps mother in her daily household chores.

Could you describe a typical day in your life?
A typical day of mine begins when I wake up at 6.00 in the morning. First of all, after ablution I pray to God. After that I prepare for school by getting dressed and taking my breakfast. In breakfast, I take Roti (Bread), egg and tea. Then I approach to school which is 1 km from my home. I travel on foot and it takes me less than 15 minutes to reach the school. The school begins at 7:30 a.m. In my school I study Urdu, English, Science, Mathematics, Social studies and Islamic studies. There is half an hour break for lunch and relaxation about half way through the day. I usually bring lunch from my home and after taking lunch I play with my friends in the school ground for the rest of time. The school timings end at 1:15 p.m. After coming back from school, I take bath, except in winter. Soon afterward I take rest for some time. Then I begin my schoolwork and having completed that engage in household chores as washing crockery, cleaning courtyard, making evening tea, giving fodder to buffalo and cow etc. Around 5:00 p.m., for about half an hour I play some games like hopscotch, punj geet etc with my friends in the neighbor. Therewith, I come back and pray to God. I take my dinner at 7:00 p.m. Then I watch television, chat with my family. As usual I go to sleep at 9:00 p.m.

Do you work for the family income?
I go to the field with my mother for agriculture activities and wash clothes on Sundays, as schools are closed on this day. In my daily routine, there are some other responsibilities as to give fodder to cow and buffalo and clean their place etc.

What kind of clothes do you wear inside the house and outside the house?
I wear shalwar, kameez and dopatta both inside and outside the house. The only difference outside the house is that I cover my head with dopatta (scarf). For special events as marriage ceremony of some relatives, school funfair or Eid etc, I demand my parents to arrange more colorful and silky clothes for me.

Do you have a dream?
I like doctors very much. My biggest dream is to become a doctor. To achieve this dream, I work very hard and fully concentrate on my studies. I always stand first in my class.

What is your favorite subject?
My favorite subjects are Urdu and English. I like Urdu because there are many interesting stories in Urdu and I enjoy reading all of them. I like English as it's a new language for me.

Do you wear a school uniform?
Yes, I wear school uniform, its White Shalwar (loose trouser) and sky blue shirt with white scarf.

How is the atmosphere in the classroom?
Atmosphere in the class is good. I enjoy in my classroom. The walls are decorated with charts and we have furniture as well. I take pleasure from being with my classmates.

Are there only girls in your class?
There are only girls in our class. We have separate schools for both girls and boys in our village. We are fifteen girls in our class. Most of the girls of the village do not attend school. Our school is till eight classes but unfortunately we do have only two teachers for all eight classes. That is why; the quality of education is not satisfactory. We don't play or study with boys. We are frank only to our real brothers, not even to our first cousins. Sometimes girls in my age want to play with boys but their parents don't allow them to do so.

Is it okay, if a girl falls in love?
Neither any other village girls, nor I spend time with boys. We don't have any relationship with boys. It seems very awkward in our culture. In our culture it is not considered fair that a girl falls in love. Some times if a girl likes some boy but she can never tell this to any body else. Girls cannot have boy friends in our culture as it is against the teachings of our religion.

What is important for you in your life?
The most important thing in my life is My Family. I always pray for their prosperity.

What would you like to be when you grow up?
My only desire is to become a doctor. I like doctors very much and I am working hard to achieve my goal. For my future, I have just thought of becoming doctor.

Whom do you admire (family, friends, celebrities) and why?
First my family, as they take care of my necessities and because of their affection they do have for myself. I also enjoy a lot on different sorts of functions as marriage ceremonies, school fun fairs and Eid etc. In the village I don't get much opportunities to enjoy so these are the best things in my life. I pray to God to have these opportunities again and again so I could have more fun and joys.

What do you do in your spare-time? What are your habits?
In my spare time I do my household chores like giving fodder to animals, grains to chickens and watering the plants etc. In spare-time I also play games like hopscotch, punjgeet with my friends in neighbor. I also listen music and watch television.

What is your favorite music?
I like Pakistani pop music. My favorite singer is Shehzad Roy (famous Pakistani singer). I am very social, when I get a chance I sing songs and participate in school programs.

What do you think about the situation in Afghanistan?
I am very sad over American's attack on Afghanistan as many innocent casualties are coming to the scene daily. The news of attack on World Trade Center was too painful because lots of people were assassinated. Still and all, I'm more sorrowful as America is furious over that incident and killing hundreds of the Afghans every day. Initially, we were very tensed and worried that US could attack on us, because the Americans were saying that the Muslims have done all of this. But now, we are at ease as we think that US doubts on the Pakistanis have been taken away and they are sure now that we haven't done this.

What makes you happy?
When my parents and teachers praise me for my good work, it gives me much pleasure.

What makes you sad?
When my parents restrict me for going to certain places as a marriage ceremony or to play in my friends' homes, it makes me so sad. As there are not such limitations for my brothers. They can enjoy what they want to and can do every thing.

How do friends describe you?
That I'm friendly, honest and social. My friends also declare that I'm very confident as the other girls of the village are not so.

What is your favorite dress?
I like jeans and frock but my parents don't let me to wear these. As it is considered very clumsy in our culture.




	Sponsor a child