Shakeel's story
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Shakeel
Photo: Rajendra Shaw/Oxfam
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My name's Shakeel and I'm seven years old. I live in a suburb
of the city of Hyderabad in India. It's hot, dry and dusty here,
but other areas of India are lush and green. I have always lived
here, and my father was born here too.
I live with my mother and father, and brother and sister. At
home we speak Urdu, which is one of many languages that are spoken
in India. The main ones are Hindi and English.
I wake up at six o'clock in the morning, just as the sun comes
up. My brother Shabeer sleeps in the same room. Mum and dad are
already up. My mum fetches water from the tap in the street so
that we can all wash, and my dad washes his auto-rickshaw. This
is a taxi with three wheels.
We are Muslims and say our prayers every morning. Then it's time
to eat. For breakfast I have salted parathas with tea. (Photo
20) I like lots of sugar in my tea. Mum helps me get ready
for school. (Photo 19)
At seven o'clock off I go to school. My dad gives me a lift on
his way to work. We see lots of monkeys on the way.
We have a blue and white uniform at school. There are about 40
children in my class and so it gets very noisy. I like Craft and
History best. (Photo
21) I've got four special friends - Rahim, Moulana, Ahmed
and Suleman. At break time we play football. It's so hot and dusty
that some children prefer not to wear shoes. (Photo
22)
I walk home from school with my big sister and our friends. It
takes us quite a while but on the way there's a very big tamarind
tree. We stop and throw stones to break off the juicy fruit.
When I get home I milk and feed the goats. (Photo
23) That's my special job. I like it because then I can
drink the milk. I also help my mum get the evening meal ready
by cutting vegetables. We eat dinner at about 7.30pm. I like dal,
potatoes and tomato curry. We all eat together if Dad is back
from work.
After supper I watch TV or listen while my sister reads a story.
By nine o'clock I am in bed. I sleep with my favourite pillow,
which I don't like anyone else to use. A cool fan keeps Shabeer
and me comfortable until morning. (Photo
24)
Lesson plan: Our days
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