The stories of 15 slum children

3. Our Friends:

6. Our Stories
Editor
Nurur Rahman
Advisors
Shunil Chanchal Baroi
Prof. Dr. Mamun Habib
Md. Farhan Shahriar
Translation
Md. Saiful Islam
Book Cover and Design
Syed Nazmus Sakib
Interview and Overall Support
Rakib Hossain
David Milon Ghorami
Bakul Saren
Porimal Gharami
Manik Chowdhury
Special Gratitude
Eva Kernova, Mohammed Loch, Honorable Donors of C2C,
Directors of C2C, Priashis Basak, Imon Chandra Banik, All the
loving students of C2C and their family and to all the people who
are supporting C2C directly or indirectly.
ISBN:
978-984-35-2285-6

7. All the underprivileged children in the world
To

8. The book is about the underprivileged and struggling students of The Choice to Change
(C2C) school. Among all the 280 students (230 in Dhaka and 50 in Cox’s Bazar Rohingya
Refugee camp) only 15 success stories have been portrayed in this book due to a lot of limitations.
Each and every story is very unique and full of struggle for survival.
The statistics shows that almost 42% of children, dwelling in slums, who are under 12 years
old are deprived of primary education. Another research predicted that by 2030, the population in
Dhaka city will become approximately 100 million, and a very large part of that population
will be living in the slum. The alarming thing is that most of them will be deprived of primary
education.
So, to make Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and Government People’s Republic of
Bangladesh’s Vision 2041 a success, model projects like that of The Choice to Change foundation
(C2C) are very necessary in every slum in our country. C2C has already adopted the STEM
education system to ensure accumulated learning of Science, Technology, Engineering and
Math so that they can have a profound knowledge of these four as a whole rather than that
of a separate entity. Thus, they will get a more life-centered education and with that they will
be able to contribute in their family, society and for the country.
The Choice to Change Foundation (C2C) wants to work together with the government, char-
itable organizations, business institutions and individuals to ensure education and a standard life for
those underprivileged children living in the slum. Thus, C2C wants to contribute to make
Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and Vision 2041 a success.
Preface

9. About C2C
The Choice to Change (C2C) was founded by Eva Kernova, a citizen of Slovakia resided in
the UAE and Sunil Baroi, a citizen of Bangladesh resident in Dhaka in July, 2010. C2C was
endorsed as an official foundation by the Government Republic of Bangladesh in March,
2013 and registration number is S-11649 under Societies Act, 1994 and later the organiza-
tion registered with NGO AB at 2015 for foreign donations and the registration number is
2979. The motto of the founders is to change the lives of poverty-stricken children in the
slums of Dhaka by paving an educational pathway for them to follow.
Vision:
Our vision is to build a healthy environment of education and learning among underprivi-
leged children, thus stopping the cycle of poverty in the slums of Bangladesh. We also aspire
one day to touch the hearts and minds of countless other destitute children all over Bangla-
desh.
Mission:
Our mission is to bring the best quality of education to the students for the slums of Bangla-
desh at free of cost. C2C solemnly believes that through education with focus on English
language, TVET and STEM can change for the better. We have chosen to change the lives of
underprivileged children of Bangladesh.
Core Values:
1. Quality Education
2. Sustenance
3. Empathy
4. Transparency and Accountability
5. Inclusiveness, Gender Equality and Mutual Respect

10. I started The Choice To Change Foundation (C2C) with a
vision to break the endless cycle of poverty in the slums of
Bangladesh by providing primary education and basic health
care to underprivileged children. At present 230 students
from different slums of Dhaka city are getting free of cost
education from the C2C Educational project that measures
the true success of my beloved foundation. I am happy to hear
that our business development team has published a story-
book for C2C. I wish the best of luck for the storybook
Our mission and vision are to undertake and carry out human-
itarian programs targeting the poor, underprivileged and
illiterate people, especially those who are living in the slums
with a specific focus on women and children living on the
streets and in the slums of Bangladesh. We are gradually
reaching our goals but maybe it is taking time as we don’t have
enough resources. Bangladesh business development team
publishes a storybook. I hope and believe that the storybook
on the success stories of our students will be an excellent
piece of work.
The Choice To Change Foundation (C2C) was established in
July 2010 and I was engaged with C2C from the very begin-
ning. Our objectives are to reduce the education gap among
the children living in the slums of Dhaka city by ensuring
primary, moral, ethical, STEM and TVET education. We are
also ensuring a space for learning and sharing soft skills with a
focus on empathy and problem-solving skills. I am happy to
hear that our business development team will publish a story-
book on our students. I wish you the very best of luck for the
storybook.
Messages
Eva Kernova
Founder
The Choice to Change
Foundation
Mohammed Loch
Donor and Partner
The Choice to Change
Foundation
Probudhan Shawjal
Chairman
The Choice to Change
Foundation

11. Md. Farhan Shahriar
Treasurer and Director
of Business Development
The Choice to Change
Foundation
Sunil Chanchal Baroi
Executive Director
The Choice to Change
Foundation
Prof. Dr. Md. Mamun
Habib
I recently joined C2C as a Vice-Chairman to contribute to the
life of underprivileged children and women of different slums of
Dhaka city. As an Academician, I shall guide C2C to focus on soft
skills, STEM education and vocational/TVET education to
prepare the students for the future. The learning curriculum
should be tailored to meet the need of the future and we will
focus on the next-generation curriculum for C2C. Our business
development team is publishing a storybook of fifteen extraor-
dinary students so that we can showcase our students’ hard
work and hurdles to the global community.
Vice-Chairman
The Choice to Change
Foundation
As a Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Choice To
Change Foundation (C2C), my vision is to build a healthy envi-
ronment of education and learning among underprivileged
children to stop the cycle of poverty in the slums of Bangladesh.
I always aspire that one day we will be able to touch the hearts
and minds of countless other destitute children all over Bangla-
desh. Last ten years, we have published many documents but
this year we are publishing a storybook of our students. I hope
that these stories can visualize and demonstrate the hurdles of
our students to the community because we have chosen to
change the lives of the underprivileged children of Bangladesh.
I have started working with The Choice To Change Foundation
(C2C) from 2011 as a volunteer. In 2013, I was selected and
appointed as a Board of Director and Treasurer. As a Treasurer &
Business Development Director, I shall try to achieve the SDG
2030 and the goals-1,2,4,5,8,17 and the Government People's
Republic of Bangladesh’s Vision 2041. So C2C wants to showcase
this storybook to the Government, Donor Agencies, NGOs and
Commercial Organizations to collaborate and work with them.
Because C2C seriously believes that through education with a
focus on the English language, TVET and STEM can change for the
better future that helps to achieve SDG 2030 and Bangladesh
Perspective Plan 2041. We have chosen to change the lives of the
underprivileged children of Bangladesh.

13. - Swapna
1
Lack of treatment made
me a disabled person
My name is Swapna. I am a student
of class 3 in Choice to Change
School. There are 4 members in my
family and we all live together in a
small house in the new market,
Lalmati slum. Living in a small room
is very painful. During summer we
undergo extreme heat and when it
rains, water falls from our roof and
sometimes the room is flooded by
the rain water.
My father is a day laborer and my
mother works as a maid. My father
does not get work every day. But he
is an addict. Most of his earnings are
spent on drugs. He does not give us
any money. He doesn’t understand
our sufferings. Sometimes we
starve and pass the day.
I wanted to go to school from my
early childhood but I thought it
would never be possible for me to
go to school as my parents didn’t
have the ability to bear the expens-
es.
Mother runs our family with great
difficulty. When I was just 3, my
father took me to a tubwell for
bathing. Suddenly I slipped, fell and
broke my left leg.
As we were very poor, my parents could not afford
the hospital and I was given Panipara from a local
Kabiraj. Right after I was born, my mother used to
leave me with my grandmother and leave for work.
As a result, I did not get enough breast milk and
was suffering from malnutrition.
When I broke my leg, I became a crippled due to
insufficient treatment and malnutrition. My leg
became twisted. Walking has become a very pain-
ful experience since then. Our school is next to our
slum. I got good food, books, notebooks, and
uniforms for free after I got admitted to school.
Sometimes I even get rice, pulses and other
groceries from school. The teachers are very good.
They love me a lot. In addition to teaching, teach-
ers teach us morals and ethics. It made me realize
that what my father does is wrong. After I
explained he understood it as well. Now he is
trying to give up the habit gradually.
Although it is tough for me to walk, I try to come to
school regularly. I want to be a teacher when I
grow up. Because I know C2C is supporting me
and helping me to fulfill my dreams. In addition to
my studies, I am learning to operate computers
from school. Now I can use the internet. Many
boys and girls mock me as I am a cripple. We have
computers and a very qualified IT teacher in our
school. I got introduced to IT very easily.
When I grow up and become a teacher, I want to
earn through freelancing as well. I want to stand
beside my family and the children like me. Those
who mocked me, I want to show them that a
crippled can do a lot of things.
The name of my school is Choice to Change (C2C)
i.e., the desire for change. I have realized it through
my life. A lot of things have changed. I want to be a
higher educated person through this school.

14. Both my parents work as day laborers.
But they don't get work every day.
Their income is not enough for
running the family. It becomes tough
for them to bear the house rent and
the other expenses. So, to help my
parents I work in a street food cart.
My name is Shanto. I read in class 7.
My father’s name is Manik Mia and my
mother’s name is Maya Begum. I along
with my family live in Lalmati slum at
Natun Bazar. We 6 members of our
family live together in a small hut.
When I was 7 years old, my mother
came to know about C2C school
where they provide full free educa-
tion for poor people. Even the school
provides lunch along with other
academic materials and uniforms.
My mother thought, if I go to school,
at least I would get one meal of the
day properly because my mother
couldn’t provide food properly.
Besides I will get free education otherwise
they couldn’t afford my education. I am
studying only because of C2C.
I got GPA 5 in PSC. I consider myself lucky
because I found C2C otherwise I wouldn’t be
able to continue my education. It is such a
school that gives me food, education and
motivates me to move forward.
Today I can speak English fluently and I give
speeches in different programs. I also take
part in debate competitions and take part in
cultural programs. The teachers are very
friendly. They teach us very sincerely and
inspire us to move forward.
I have a dream. I want to be established in life
and I want to stand beside my family. I want
to help poor children like me. If C2C wasn’t
there, I wouldn’t be able to come this far with
a dream.
During the pandemic my parents didn’t have
any work. The school helped us by giving
necessary groceries every month. When no
one came, C2C was there and the teachers
came to visit us regularly.
Apart from education I have learned man-
ners from C2C school and seeing them my
family members learned them as well. My
parents understood that education has the
power to change our destiny.
I think those slums that do not have any
schools like C2C, they can't study. There
should be at least one school like C2C in
every slum. C2C is like a blessing to us. Thank
you a lot C2C.
I have a Dream
- Shanto
2

15. Though we tolerated the cold, we couldn’t
tolerate hunger. We were crying a lot due to
hunger. My mother used to beat us. But I
couldn’t understand why she was behaving in
that way! Sometimes she used to act very
affectionately. Later when I grew up, I under-
stood the reason. Thus, we passed our hard
days.
There was a girl of my age who studied in C2C
school. I heard about the school from her. I
heard that C2C school provides milk and
biscuits during tiffin and also provides lunch. I
told my mother that we don’t have to pay for
this school, rather this school will help us.
Then I got admitted to the school and I start-
ed going to school every day. I have been
interested in English since my childhood.
Now I give tuition to the little children of our
slum. The money I earn from it, I spend on my
family. Choice to change schools has changed
our life a lot. My life is a lot better now. There
was a time when I passed my days without any
food and now, I can help my family. My story
inspired a lot of other children and now they
want to study in this school as well. I want to
be a teacher in this school. It is my dream to
be a teacher in this school. This is the story of
my life.
My name is Nurjahan Akter. I am the elder daughter of my
family. There were 9 members in our family including my
mother, father, brother, sister, sister-in-law and her
children. My father is the only earning member of our
family. Once we were leading a moderate life but suddenly
my father lost his job and our struggle started. I was just 6
years old then and my siblings were a lot younger.
3
Couldn’t tolerate
the hunger and Cried - Nurjahan
We couldn’t eat properly. There were
days we passed without any food. It was
tough for my father to arrange even one
meal a day. He works as a day-laborer.
When he couldn’t get any work, we used
to starve. Then my mother started work-
ing as a maid.
Sometimes I saw my mother crying. I
couldn’t understand why she was crying.
If I asked, she wouldn’t reply properly.
Sometimes the landlord used to quarrel
with my parents. Sometimes he kicked us
out of our house and we had to pass the
night outside.
I remember a winter night. Our landlord
kicked us out because we couldn’t pay
our rent. We didn’t have any place to go.
We took shelter on the road. It was a
dark cold night. We were quivering due
to the cold. My siblings were getting very
cold. At some point my mother covered
us with her saree and embraced us. And
thus, we passed that night.

16. My name is Md. Masum Islam and I
am 15 years old. I am a student of
class 8 in C2C school. There are four
members in my family including my
parents and siblings. We used to live
in Trishal, Mymensingh. Back then
we were living a moderate life. When
I was just five, one day my father
came back from work and started
beating me. He hit me so hard that
blood gushed out of my back. Mother
said that she couldn’t understand
why he was beating me. Then he
kicked us out of the house. He was
behaving as if he did not know us.
My mother moved to my grand-
mothers in Khilkhet, Dhaka with us.
A few days later my father came back
to us. But then my mother realized
that he has a psychoneurotic prob-
lem. He was always very scared and
used to hide under the bed.
Being mentally ill, my father could
not do any work. Mother was forced
to work as a maid to feed us.
Mother used to travel to different
places for my father's treatment. It
cost a lot of money and the process
was very hard. But he never got
better.
My mother's dream was to educate us. When I
was 7 years old, my grandmother heared about
C2C school from a neighbor. The school does not
take any tuition fees rather it provides lunch,
uniforms and other necessary materials. My
mother was very happy to hear this. She thought
if we got admitted we would get lunch at least.
Because she couldn't provide us enough food.
When my mother visited the school with us and
shared the story, the teacher liked us a lot. Then
Sir gave my mother a job in the school as a cleaner
and caretaker. It was our great privilege as I along
with my younger brother were able to study at
the same school for free.
In 2018, I got GPA 5 in PSC and my younger broth-
er stood first in the class. It pleases the higher
authority. I feel lucky because my mother brought
us to school for food and study. Now we are
getting both. At the same time, we are moving
forward to fulfill our dreams and my mother’s as
well.
Now my younger brother is in 6th grade and I am
in 8th grade. Our school hosts various cultural
programs every year including debating and
spelling competition. I participate in these
programs. The teachers at the school love us very
much. The teachers at C2C School are very
friendly and they always inspire us to move
forward.
My aim in life is to become a doctor. I want to
stand beside my family and help the poor. Today, I
could come this far only because of C2C school.
During covid, when my mother didn’t have any
job, the school gave us necessary groceries for our
family. They took care of us regularly. It’s not just
education, C2C has saved our lives.
I could come this far
because of C2C school
- Masum
4

17. I am 14 years old and read in class 9 in
Choice to Change school. I live in a slum in
Lalmati with six other members of my
family. I should have been the apple of one’s
eye as I am the youngest, but the reality was
different. We were living in the village
before my birth. Poverty engulfed our
family after my birth. My father had to leave
the village to earn a living for our family. We
could not eat three meals a day. At one point
we all moved to Dhaka and started living in
the slum.
Both my parents started working as day
laborers. We had to starve, when they
couldn't manage any work. When I was
hungry, I used to stand in front of a nearby
shop. If someone gave something, I would
eat them. I thought if my mother cooks
something good at night, I will eat to my
heart's content. But even at night we could
not eat all the time. When I could not toler-
ate hunger, I used to drink water and lie
down with a pillow under my stomach.
Thus, we grow up in poverty. There was a
school next to our slum. Many boys and
girls used to go to school every day. All
their dresses were the same. It was great
to see them. I didn't have any new clothes.
We used to collect and wear old clothes
used by others. I used to wear boys'
clothes even when I was a girl.
I used to stand by the school every day
and listen to what the boys and girls read
and also sang the national anthem during
the assembly. One day a teacher at the
school asked me if I wanted to go to this
school. I agreed.
Thus in 2010 I was admitted to the
Choice to Change (C2C) School. I have
done well in PSC and JSC. I was passing
every class with flying colors. My dream is
to be a teacher. Everything I need for my
studies is given by the school. C2C School
has helped me in my studies in every step.
It also provides lunch. It even helped my
family in many ways. During Corona, the
C2C school saved my family by giving
rice, pulses, oil, potatoes and other neces-
sities every month. In this way, C2C
School has been supporting us.
My parents don't want me to study
anymore. They want me to work. I started
teaching as a tutor to help my family. I
help my family with my little income. I am
grateful to all the teachers and those who
are working with C2C.
Choice to change schools has fulfilled my
dream. I want to help others like this by
fulfilling this dream of mine. I want to
inspire thousands of girls like me and help
them to fulfill their dreams.
‘Choice to Change’
fulfilled my dream
- Sonia
5

18. Struggled but continued
my education
I am Shakil Islam. I am studying at the
Choice to Change school. My mother
told me that we were a happy family.
We lived in the village. I wasn’t born
then. My father sold all her lands
during his first marriage. My mother
was her second wife. My father
didn’t have any house, so he was
living with my grandmother. When
my grandmother died, my maternal
uncle's divided the lands among
them and my parents didn’t have any
place to live. So they moved to the
city.
When I was 6 years old my parents
admitted me to a nearby school.
Bearing the expenses of my school
was very tough for them. Suddenly
we noticed that there is a school in
our slum named Choice to Change
(C2C) school and this school doesn’t
take any tuition fees. Finally in 2012
I got admitted to C2C school and
started a new chapter in my life.
But continuing my study was a chal-
lenge for me. My parents decided
that they will move to the village
again and stop my education. But I
wanted to continue my study. So
they left me alone. I was alone and
didn’t have any place to live in Dhaka.
Then one of my step brothers gave me shelter
but they were poor as well. They used to eat
wet rice most of the time, sometimes they had
to strave. Living in a tin shed hut during the
summer or winter was very painful.
My father became old and can't do any work
now. Now he lives on the old age allowance. He
can't treat himself due to poverty. But I never
give up. Amidst this struggle I continued my
education. My aim is to be established and
remove my parents' distress.
I want to be a soldier when I shall complete my
education. My family doesn’t need to bear the
expenses of my education because my school
provides all the necessary things for my educa-
tion. Besides they gave me lunch and helped my
family in different ways.
During the pandemic when I didn’t have any
work, the school gave me the necessary grocer-
ies and helped me to survive. Choice to Change
(C2C) school has been helping me to bear my
educational expenses and house rent. It is help-
ing me to fulfill my dream. Actually if the school
wasn’t there I wouldn’t be able to continue my
study.
- Shakil
6

19. - Swapon
I will remain ever grateful
to C2C school
My name is Swapon Sheikh. I am a
regular student of class 8 in C2C. My
father is a person with special abili-
ties. He can’t work. My mother is the
only earning member of our family.
She earns money by begging and
buys food for us. We couldn’t eat
three meals a day. We live in a slum in
badda. There are 7 people in our
house and we live together in a small
house. We need to tolerate extreme
heat in summer and cold in winter
but we don't have any other way.
One day some NGOs bought my
father a rickshaw but poverty was
like a constant company. I couldn’t
get admitted to school because of
poverty. At that time we learned
about C2C school. I got admitted to
that school for free. School provides
all the necessary things required for
education.
It started a new chapter in my life.
We get tiffin and lunch from the
school. They give milk and biscuits
for tiffin. I read in class 8 now. Still my
mother is a beggar. It hurts me a lot.
7
I am determined that I will complete my
education and take a good job. Then I won’t
allow my mother to do anything.
When I speak in English, my neighbors ask
how I have learned to speak English. Then I
tell them proudly that I am a student of C2C
school. I, along with my family, will remain
ever grateful to C2C.
This school has helped me and my family a lot.
When we didn’t have any food in our house,
the school gave us things like rice, lentill, oil
and other necessary groceries. Besides they
provide all the necessary things required for
education like books, note books, pens,
pencils and uniforms, even the shoes.
To help my parents I work in a tea stall. As per
the rules and regulations of our country,
childrens are not allowed to do any work but
there is nothing to do as I can not tolerate
hunger. So I go to work everyday but I didn’t
forget my aim. I have to become a highly
educated person.
I go to school in the morning and after school I
go to the shop for work. I used to think we
won't be able to remove poverty from our life.
But now I know, life is like a war and I am a
soldier, I have to win this war and break this
vicious cycle of poverty. I have to win no
matter what. I believe C2C will always stand
beside me.

20. 8
My name is Shumi Akter. I read in
class 4. There are five members in our
family including my parents and
siblings. My mother told me that one
of my brothers died of diarrhea when
he was 1 year old. Since then sadness
has engulfed our family. My father
works as a day laborer and could not
afford to admit me in a school.
Through my aunt I heard that one can
get admitted free in Choice to
Change (C2C) school. Besides, it gives
tiffin and lunch. I told everything to
my mother and she admitted me to
this school. The school didn't take any
fees from us. I go to school regularly
and always pass the exams with flying
colors. The teachers love me a lot.
When I was 7 years old, something
very bad happened to me. I was
affected by chickenpox and lost an
eye. Now I study with only one eye. It
creates problems when I study.
I am very glad that I got admitted to C2C school.
In different programs, the seniors from the
schools participate in different English
programs. It inspires me a lot and I also try to
speak English. My teachers also help me to
speak in English. I will participate in different
english programs when I will grow up. Now I can
speak in English. I want to be a teacher in this
school in future. I like the way they teach English
here.
I want to improve our life. I don't want to live in
a slum like my parents. Living here is very
difficult. Choice to Change (C2C) school has
changed my behavior as well. My younger
brother is learning from me. It also changed my
family also. Now I can teach my younger brother
as well.
Next year I will sit for the final exam. After that I
am thinking of working as a house tutor. Then I
will be able to help my family financially. I want
to share the burden of this family with my father.
This is my dream. My father can't run this family
alone anymore. It hurts me a lot.
I am very glad that I got
admitted to C2C school.
- Shumi

21. C2C was always
there for us
So, I started helping her. After some time I
started my own little vegetable shop. I used
to do these and continue my study. I earned
some extra money by doing different works
in the market. I gave all the money to my
mother.
The path was not easy. It was impossible to
continue my study. I thought I won’t be able
to continue my study but C2C was always
there for us. I was seeing and learning a lot
of new things about the world. Meanwhile,
my mother became ill. Then I started selling
tea on the street.
From a very early age, I have been interest-
ed in computers. At school, we learned to
operate computers. While using comput-
ers, I understood that we can earn money
by working online. I have learned web
development from the internet. Now I am
working as a web developer regularly and
doing some projects. Thus, I was earning a
small amount of money and helping my
family with that money.
My dream is to do something big in this
sector and make self-dependent people
around me. One day I will prove that the
saying 'if there is a will, there is a way' has
an effect not only in books but also in prac-
tical life. One day I will succeed.
My academic life started with the Choice
to Change school. It was 10 to 12 years
old. I was playing on the field with my
friends. Suddenly some people came and
started taking our pictures. And then they
gave us food. Then we found out that they
were taking pictures to arrange our
education.
Our family couldn’t afford our education.
My father didn’t have any work. My
mother runs the family alone. She works
all day to feed us. Education was like a
luxury to us.
One day C2C came and stood beside us.
This is how we started our academic life.
The school doesn’t take any fees, rather it
provides all the necessary materials for
education. Besides they give food and
other necessary things like winter clothes,
blankets, in times of need. But what will
happen to my family? My mother worked
alone but it was not enough to run the
family. So, I started helping my mother in
the battle of life. She sells vegetables in
the market.
9
- Shahriar

22. 10
Got the happiest moments
of my life from C2C school
- Shajib
There are four members in our family
including my parents and siblings. My
mother works as a maid but it is not enough
to run the family. So, to help my mother I
work as a tutor and my younger brother
works in a shop. Thus, we run our family.
My father is very irresponsible. He left us
when I was six. He got married for the
second time and lived in Gazipur. He
doesn't care for us. So, my mother started
working as a maid to feed the family.
After 3 years of that incident my mother
got married again in the hope of happiness.
He thought the new father would take care
of us. But her hopes were dashed. She got
pregnant after 5 months and at that time
my step father left us.
So, I was forced to leave the school and
started to collect waste paper on the road.
A few days later my younger brother came
into the world and my step father returned.
I go back to school again. Everything was
going well for almost two years. Leaving
my mother pregnant again, my father left.
My younger brother needed blood two months after
the delivery. But we could not collect blood due to
the lack of money and my younger brother died.
My father returns a few days later. This time I joined
my father and worked for City Corporation. Then in
2013 my mother admitted me to C2C
school. School life was very happy for me.
Then in 2018 my father left us leaving my
pregnant mother again and he never came
back.
C2C is very good because besides educa-
tion, the school also provides notebooks,
pens, uniforms, and food. I got the happiest
moments of my life from C2C school. I
have learned a lot from this school such as
cleanliness. Now we clean the school
grounds and the slum occasionally.
Teachers not only teach from books but
also give us moral education. I attend
various school events. I am very happy in
my school. My dream is to be a higher
educated person. Hopefully I will be able
to solve all the problems one day and do
something good for my family and my
school.

23. 11
I am Ratan Mia, a student of Choice to
Change School, studying in class 10. I
am 17 years old. I want to be a business-
man in future. There are 7 members in
our family including my parents and
siblings. We live in a small hut in a slum.
My father had no regular work. Some-
times we had to eat once, sometimes
twice in a day.
We did not have electricity in our house
because we could not afford to pay the
electricity bill. There was no fan or light
in our house. We used cheap candles.
My sister used to go to school but due
to insolvency she had to stop going to
school and she had been married off at a
very early age
.
Poverty has become our constant com-
panion. To improve our condition, my
father started driving rickshaws but still
it did not go. All we could do is just rent
a small house and have a meal with that
income. Seeing other boys and girls
going to school, I also wanted to go to
school but we could not afford it.
I thought I would never get a chance to go to
school ever. My parents also told me that I
would never get a chance to go to school.
Suddenly one day we found a school that
provides totally free education. Besides it
provides books, notebooks, pens, uniforms as
well as lunch. The name of the school is C2C.
It gave me the opportunity to study.
Suddenly my father became sick and can no
longer do any work. At that time, I had no
choice but to take the wheel of my family. I
had to earn and run the family but no one
gave me any work. At some point I started
selling betel leaf and cigarettes.
The money I earn from selling those things, I
buy groceries from them. Everyone in the
family depends on me now. My father became
sicker. He becomes a patient of high pressure.
But I don’t have any way to consult a doctor.
He has kidney problems but we can't afford to
treat him properly.
I go to school at 7:30 in the morning. The
school ends at 4:00 p.m. After school I take
my basket and go to the market. I sell ciga-
rettes from 9 to 10 at night. Then come back
and study. I usually go to bed at 11/12 pm
after finishing my studies. Everything I earn
goes to rent a house, my father's medicine, my
family's expenses and my travel expenses.
Poverty and struggle are our eternal compan-
ions. Yet C2C inspires us to dream. When I
become a businessman, there will be no
poverty. We will not have any trouble. We will
be able to eat our hearts content. This dream
keeps us alive.
C2C gave me the opportunity
of education - Ratan

24. 12
I am Akhi Akter Aklima. Our family consists
of five members. Poverty, struggle, and
suffering are constant companions from
childhood. I have seen poverty close up. My
mother wanted me to be adopted by some-
one else because she couldn’t afford the
cost of raising me.
My mother wasn’t happy at all. My father
used to beat her. She had to tolerate a lot.
Due to insufficient treatment my elder
brother died. Then my father kicked her
out of the house.
My mother came to Dhaka with her little
children. As we didn’t have any relatives in
Dhaka, she rented a small house and we
started living in a slum. But who will give us
food? My mother started working as a day
laborer and broke bricks. At that time, she
was pregnant with me.
When I was born everyone was happy but
my mother didn't have the ability to raise
me properly. So, she wanted to give me up
for adoption. At that time my father came
back and seeing my face maybe he felt
affectionate and stopped the adaptation.
My elder sisters were very meritorious but
my father didn’t allow them to study. He
tore all their books and threw them into a
dustbin. They were forced to work and
after some time they were married off and
their dreams were broken.
After some time my father tried to stop my
education. He told me to be involved in
some work like my sisters. But my elder
sisters and my mother stopped him. Then
my elder sisters got me admitted to C2C
school in 2010.
This changed my life. I never thought I
would come this far. Now I am studying and
it's totally free, besides the school provides
books, notebooks, pen, pencil, and uniform.
They never took any fees. Now I am learn-
ing computers. When I got GPA 5 in PSC,
my father was very happy. I have started
giving tuition when I am in class 6. He
became happier when I bought him a dress
on Eid with the money I have earned from
giving tuition.
Interesting thing is that my father has
changed as well. He understood his
mistakes. He now feels guilty for not allow-
ing other girls education. Now he is telling
me that he will let me continue my study, no
matter what. Now I help my parents finan-
cially to run the family.
Not only academic materials, C2C helped
me by providing necessary groceries like
rice, lentils, and potatoes. I came this far
because of C2C. It was quite impossible if
C2C wasn’t there. I am very grateful to
C2C.
I never thought,
I would come this far
- Aklima

25. There were a lot of children of my age who used
to go to school, seeing them I always felt like
going to school as well. But I couldn’t afford it. I
was just 5 years old then. In 2010 my mother
came to know about Change to Choose (C2C)
school
Poverty is still our constant companion. To help
my mother, I have started working in a cyber
cafe. They gave me a little money every month.
With that small amount I help my family. There
are a lot of computers in our school with good
internet connection. I use them and through
them I got introduced to the IT sector. I want to
be an IT person in future and that is why I took a
job in an internet office so that I can enhance
my experience and skills.
If there wasn’t C2C, my life wouldn’t have
changed. They are providing full free quality
education. Now my family has understood the
importance of education. I want to be a higher
educated person and want to be established. I
want to see my mother happy. I want to help
children like me. My mother still works as a
maid servant. Sometimes she needs to go to
work despite being sick. I want to be highly
educated and remove my mother’s distress. I
want to help my family as well. I go to school
every day and after school I work.
My family is still poor and still we do not get
proper food. When my mother is sick, I work to
buy her medicine. And then I help her with her
work. I am proud of my school. I feel proud to be
a student of C2C.
13
Struggle and suffering were like a
constant companion from childhood. My
father works in a grocery shop. But he
never took care of us or he never gave us
any expenses. There are five members in
our family. My mother works as a maid to
run our family. Sometimes we pass the
day by taking only one meal.
I am Liton Mia and I am 14 years old. I
read in class 7. My father’s name is Yasin
Mia and My mother’s name is Lipi
Begum. We live in a little hut in a slum.
Our house overflows if there is a little
rain. Then we had to pass the day sitting
on our small bed. We could not go out
until my mother returned from work. We
never had our drinking water boiled and
because of that I used to suffer from
Diarrhea most of the time.
C2C has changed my life
- Liton

26. I am Jahid Islam. The six members of our
family live in a slum. My parents cannot
work and for that we had to starve most
of the time. Being the elder son, I took all
the responsibilities of my family.
Despite the illness my father works as a
sweeper to run our family. My mother
works as a maid but she cannot work
regularly because physically she is very
sick and weak.
My elder sister is a school dropout and
was married off at a very early age due to
poverty. To help my parents I took a job in
a shop, but the shopkeeper never paid
my wages regularly. He used to give 10/
20 taka every day so that I could take a
bus and return home. But I saved that
money to buy some groceries so that my
mother can cook something for us.
Before, I used to collect plastic bottles on
the road.
My mother used to bring leftovers from
the families she worked for. I was only 8
then. We divided that food among us and
ate them. Now the scenario has changed
a lot.
14
Now I cannot work in a shop because I need to
attend my school regularly. Besides my study I
am learning mobile servicing so that I can
support my family. I read in class 7.
In 2010, C2C school was established in our
slum. The students were given food, clothes
from the school. Besides the poor students
were given other necessary support from the
school. One day while I was collecting bottles, a
teacher from that school came to me and asked
me if I wanted to get admitted to a school. I was
interested, and told my mother about it, but
she refused thinking that it would cost a lot of
money.Then that teacher visited our house and
convinced my mother and finally, I got admit-
ted into the school and a new chapter in my life
has started. In 2019, I passed my PSC exam with
GPA 5. Now my parents are very happy and they
want me to continue my study.
Now I dream of being a successful person. I
want to do a good job after I complete my stud-
ies. I want to stand beside my family. I don't
have any good dresses but my school gives me
new dresses every Eid. I say my Eid prayer wear-
ing those dresses. My parents did not have any
work during the pandemic. At that time the
school gave us groceries and other things for
my family. My school provides everything
necessary for continuing my study.
Now I am happy and leading a better life
because C2C is beside me. There are a lot of
poor children like me in our school. It would
have been quite impossible for us to continue
our study if C2C was not there for us. I am proud
of my school. Schools like this are very neces-
sary in every slum, so that students like us can
continue their study.
‘The responsibility of my
family is on my shoulder’
- Jahid

27. I was very jolly when I was young so they
named me Hashi. Though my name was
Hashi, there was no smile in my life. My
father is a day laborer and my mother
works as a maid. When my parents
couldn’t manage any work, we had to
starve the day. We all huddled in a small
room in the slum.
My father was an irresponsible person.
He hadn’t had any headache about the
family. And my mother’s income wasn’t
enough. Grandma didn't like me because
I was a girl. One day my father left my
mother in the village. A few days later,
she found out that he got married again.
Hearing this, she took me and rushed to
Dhaka. She brought my father back with
great difficulty. Then my sister was born.
Due to poverty my little sister could not
get proper nutritious food. At the age of
two, my mother sent her to my grand-
mother’s. Since then, he has been grow-
ing up there. A year later, my younger
brother was born.
Everyone was happy because it’s a boy. But
where will he get nutritious food? So he was
growing up with malnutrition. Mother used
to feed us with her food. She used to bring
food for us from other people's houses.
A few days later my father saw a school next
to the slum. Every day the school gives banan-
as, eggs, and a glass of milk. No fees were
taken for schooling. Instead, books, note-
books, pencils, shoes and uniforms were
given. My parents admitted me to the school.
I started studying. I was having good days at
school, I used to spend time playing with
other boys and girls of my age.
During my PSC exam, suddenly my mother
became ill. One of her hands became para-
lyzed. She couldn’t move her left hand. From
then my struggle started. I got GPA-5 in the
PSC exam. I am still continuing my studies. I
get books and pens from school.
During this pandemic, the school provided
rice, pulses, oil and other food items every
month. Now I am in the ninth grade. I give
tuition and help my family with my small
income. My parents can't support me, so they
told me to stop studying and join a garment
factory. But I want to study more. I don't know
if I will be able to fulfill my dream in the end.
We used to starve and
pass the day.
- Hashi
15

28. Contact Details:
Md. Farhan Shahriar, Sunil Chanchal Baroi
Mobile: +8801714248280, +8801736841796
E-mail: farhans@thechoicetochange.org; sunil@thechoicetochange.org
Website: https://thechoicetochange.org
Facebook page: facebook.com/choice2change
Organization Address: 1222 Vatara (Talukder Bari), Nurer Chala,
Natun Bazar, Badda, Dhaka-1212.