My name is Fatima I am just 8 years old. I deserve to go school like every other child.
I deserve a decent lifestyle like every other child has.
My life doesn't have to end as a school drop-out because my parents cannot afford my fees, I want to learn how to read and write.
I want to become a Doctor so I can help cure the sick.
I want to eat good food and have decent clothing and a proper shelter.
But unfortunately I am subjected to untold hardship, humiliation and unnecessary exposure, just because my parents cannot afford to give me a decent lifestyle.
I want to learn, but instead I am forced to hawk gworo (colanut) all day long come rain, come sun along the streets of Kastina.
I live a very terrible and unbearable life, but each day I am forced to accept my fate.
My dreams of becoming a Doctor is slowly dying as my parents constantly tell me "Boko Haram ne" (western education is forbidden) they keep telling me the best thing to do is to keep living my life and when I get older I will be married off to Suleiman the 'mai gadi'.
I do not want this kind of life. I want to actualise my dreams of becoming a medical doctor and helping the sick recover.
What do I do as I daily watch my dreams go down the drain.