2004 - Age 7

Saida joined the program in September, 2003, when she was 6. I started sponsoring her in January, 2004. I'd been a sponsor since 1989, but after my first child graduated, I took a break for about a year due to some health problems. When I started up again, the CI web site had been launched, so Saida was the first child I picked for myself. I sponsor Indian girls, and usually choose based on lowest income. This was an easy choice--look at that little face!

Saida's father, Abdul Golam, was 28 and  a daily worker; and her mother, Sokina, was 22. Her little sister, Salma, was 2. They live about 20 km outside Kolkata, in North 24 Parganas District. (Districts are like American counties. Both the CI Indian projects are in the state of West Bengal.) Her family speaks Bengali.

In 2004, the family's income was only $11 month. Saida was 3' 11" tall and weighed 35 lbs. Her favorite school subject was languages, she enjoyed playing indoor games, and drawing, and her chores included carrying water.

September - CR Letter

Dear Sponsor
Please accept my best regards and wishes. I hope that you are fine. My family and myself are also fine. I pray to God that he may bless you always. I get all types of facilities from the programme, so I am very happy and thanking you. I am studying in Gh-- Primary School in Grade III. I go to school every day. I like to read the Bengali books. I am sending a letter and a picture for you drawn by me. You take care.
Thank you for your help.
Saida K--

December - Progress Report

Saida is 4'1" tall and weighs 41 lbs. Electricity is available but not affordable. Most important of all, at some point during the year (between Sept. 2003 and March 2004), her brother Maruf Ali was born.

2005 - Age 8

March - SNG Report completed by Rita Mukherji

Please list the gifts provided to the family:
"The family has utilized the donation from the sponsor to purchase 3 wooden windows and iron grill for the windows in their home. They have also purchased a wooden cot, a mattress, 1 bedcover, 3 pillows with pillow-covers, 1 steel almirah and 1 frock."

How will the gifts benefit the family?
"The family will be able to sleep more comfortably on the cot. They will have a proper place to keep their belongings. The family will have a safe home to live in. Saida is very thrilled with her gifts: 'I like my new dress very much. We will be able to sleep more comfortably onthe new cot. My mother will use the almirah to keep our clothes and belongs. Thank you, dear sponsor.' Saida's father said, 'The iron grill will lend security to our home. We are grateful to the sponsor for this.'"

Dear Sponsor,
I send you my love and regards at the beginning of this letter. We are fine. I hope you are well. I have received a pretty dress, an almirah, a cot, a mattress, bedsheet, 3 pillows and pillow covers, 3 sets of iron grills and 3 wooden windows purchased with your gift amount. Now we shall no more have any difficulty. We are very grateful to you.
Yours,
Saida K.

March - CR Letter

Dear Sponsor
Firstly, I convey to you my respect. I expect you all to be fine. We are well here. I get all sorts of benefit from the project. The doctor of the project comes and apart from the sponsored children, there are many children and old men who come for treatment. I get my health checked there. The doctor is very nice. He loves the young kids. I thank you and end my letter here.
Yours,
Saida K--

September - CR Letter

Dear Sponsor
In the beginning, take my love. Me and my family are keeping fine. I pray to God to always keep you fine. I am getting all sorts of help from this project. For this I would happily like to thank you. To keep myself healthy, every day I brush my teeth. Take bath every day using soap. I always wash my hand before eating. I cut my nails once a week. Now I end my letter. Take my regards
From Saida K--

2006 - Age 9

February/March - SNG Reports completed by Rita Mukherji

Please list the gifts provided to the family:
"The family has utilized the donation to purchase 1500 pcs bricks, 7 bags cement 50 bags sand, 1 bag 1/4" stone chips, 15 pcs bamboo, 200 pcs tiles, 10 pcs joining tiles, nails, 2 ventilators and has hired masons and labourers to convert a side verandah of their home into a room. They have also purchased a wooden cot and dress for Saida."

How will the gifts benefit the family:
"Saida lives with her parents in a one multi-use room house. There is a verandah at the front and along the side of this room. The family wishes to convert the side verandah into a room by constructing 3 brick walls, 3 pillars, tile roof and much floor. 'We will have the width of the verandah extended by about 2 ft. There will be now 2 rooms in our home. We will have more space will be able to live more comfortably. We are very grateful to the kind sponsor for making this possible for us,' said Saida's father. 'We will be able to sleep more comfortably ont he new cot. I like my new dress very much. Thank you, dear sponsor,' said Saida.

March -- The side verandah of Saida's home has been converted into a room by constructing 3 brick pillars, 3 brick walls, and tile roof and brick floor. At the beginning, the family had proposed brick walls, tile roof and mud floor. But as there was some savings of bricks, the family decided to use these for the floor. That would make the room more comfortable to live in and also more secured. 'As there were some extra bricks, we used these for the floor. We will have more space in our home. We are very grateful to the sponsor for helping us extend our home and making it more comfortable,' said Saida's mother."

Dear Sponsor, At the beginning of my letter I send you my regards. I hope you are well. We are all fine. With your financial help we have received bricks, sand, cement, bamboo and tiles. We have repaired our room with these. We have also received a wooden cot and a frock for myself. We sleep on the cot. I thank you. Saida K--

March - CR Letter

Dear Sponsor
Hope you are well. My family and I are doing fine. I study in Gh-- Primary school. Our school is very beautiful. We have 5 teachers. They take care of us. I am in Grade III. I have a friend in my school. Her name is Sahida Khatun. We love each other a lot. We go to school together and also come back together. Ending here. Thank you.
Yours ever,
Saida K--

Do you like school? Yes.
How far is your school from home?Far.
How do you get to school?Walk (not bicycle, van-rickshaw, or bus).
Apart from studying what do you do at school?Play with my friends (not Talk to my friends, Have snacks, or Draw).

July - CR Letter

Dear Sponsor
At first you take my salute. Me and everyone in my family are fine. Receiving your help, we are happy and thank you. This year I have passed in my annual exam and got promoted from Class III to IV. I like to read new books. Me and my sister go to school together. During tiffin time, we return home together and eat tiffin. From Yours,
Saida K--

October - CR Letter

Dear Sponsor,
Take my love. Hope you are fine. We are all fine. I get all your aid for which I am very happy and thank you. I am in Grade 4. My final exams will begin soon and I am studying hard. I will be going to High School next year. Every morning I go to study. Then I take a bath, have my food and go to school. My best subject is Bengali. Take my greetings. I end here.
Your child,
SK

2007 - Age 10

January - CR Letter

Dear Dear Ms Jenkins,
First of all you accept my love and good wishes. I am fine and so are all at home. I am receiving all kinds of support from the project. I express my thanks and gratitude for everything you are doing for me. After passing the annual exams I have been admitted to Class V in a new school. I am having a very good time in my new school in the company of my new friends. My school is quite far from home. I go to school with my friends. My favourite subject is Bengali. That is all for today. Your child,
Saida K--

March - SNG Report completed by Ms Sudeshna Bera

Please list the gifts provided to the child and family:

• 1 van rickshaw
• 1 steel showcase
• 1 wooden clothes rack
• 1 clothes for child
• 1 footwear for child

How will the gifts benefit the child and family?

The van rickshaw will be used for income generation by which the family will earn a monthly profit of $7. The rest of hte items will be used in the household for storing things. Saida said, 'We are very poor and the van will lend us a lot of support. The other gifts look so good and will come to great use.'"

Dear Sponsor,
Please accept my regards. We are well. With your money we bought a van, a showcase, 1 clothes rack, 1 salwar suit and shoes. We are very happy to get all these gifts. Please accept our thanks.
Yours lovingly,
Saida K--

March - Progress Report

Saida's parents are now 32 and 26. Her sister Salma is 6 and her brother Maruf is 3. They cook on a wood-burning stove, sleep in beds, and get their water from a community pump. Mother Sokina has begun working as a maid, so the family income is now $22 per month, up from $11. (This report was written almost a month after the SNG report, so some income from the van may be included, as well.)

October - CR Letter

Dear Ms. Jenkins,
Heartiest love. My family and I are doing fine. I pray to God for your well being. I am glad to get all your help and thank you. Here it is winter now. It is time when paddy is being reaped. Many vegetables are cultivated in the fields. We collect the vegetables from the fields. After few days we will celebrate Id. We enjoy a lot on Id.
Your Child,
Saida K--

2008 - Age 11

February - Progress Report

Saida is now 4' 6" tall and weighs 54 lbs. And the family income is up to $30, and they can afford electricity!

February - SNG Report completed by Ms Sudeshna Bera

Please list the gifts provided for the family:

• 2000 bricks
• 7 cement
• 35 bags of sand
• 6 bags of stone chips
• 4 iron grills
• 6 days mason's services
• 7 days labourer's services

How will the gifts benefit the family?

"The family have made the mud floor of the kitchen and verandah concrete and also fixed a grill gate at the main entrance of their house and also covered the front portion of the verandah with iron grills. This will make their house less damp plus make their house more secure and safe. Saida said, 'My house looks wonderful and so clean. Thank you sponsor.'"

Dear Sponsor,
My warm greetings to you at the outset. I am fine and I hope you too are doing well. This is to inform you that given your monetary support we have done up the flooring of our kitchen and verandah and covered up the sides of the verandah with grill separators. Now our house is well-protected and looks better. Here are lots of thanks to you for your kind support to us. And with that, I wiill take your leave now.
Your child, Saida K--

June - CP Letter

Dear G--,
I send you my love. We are all fine. You keep well. It is very hot here and sometimes we have storms. I play with my friends in the afternoon. I play with brother in the verandah. [I had written that enclosing the verandah must make a safer place for her toddler brother to play.] I am happy to get your photo. I have shown it to all and I will keep it with care. I end with thanks. Your loving child,
Saida K--

July - CR Letter

Dear Ms Jenkins,
Please accept my love. My family and I are well. I pray to God for your well-being. I get all your aids in time. So we are very happy and convey my thanks to you. My summer vacation was over. School is started. I go to school daily. Now I have joined youth group. I go to our project's youth centre. I play with friends, chat with them. I feel very happy to come to our youth centre. We have "para dal". [Activity Group?]

To learn more about life in India, see 5 year-old Sarbari's blog.