Maulida lives with her mother and five siblings. Since a very young age, she has faced the pain of her father’s abandonment. Her father left home and never returned, leaving the responsibility of raising the family entirely to her mother, who survives by farming and selling small goods to provide for the household. The absence of her father deeply affected Maulida’s emotional well-being. Feeling rejected and without paternal presence, she began developing challenging behaviour at home and in school. She disrespected her mother, stayed out late, and became rebellious and uninterested in household responsibilities. At school, this behaviour translated into a lack of attention in class, indiscipline that distracted other students, and very poor academic performance. She struggled with reading and writing and even repeated a grade, scoring no more than 9 out of 20 in her schoolwork. 

Recognizing the situation, the school, together with her mother, who never gave up on her, intervened. With patience and firmness, her mother began to follow her more closely, offering guidance, love, and dialogue. At the same time, her teacher played a fundamental role, dedicating time to mentoring her, restoring her motivation, and helping her rebuild her self-esteem. Gradually, Maulida began to change. She learned to respect her mother, regained her interest in learning, and developed a more respectful and collaborative behaviour. 

Today, Maulida is transformed. She is now a more committed student, able to read, write, and interpret texts with confidence, and her academic performance has improved significantly, now averaging 14 out of 20. She has also become a positive example among her peers, helping classmates who struggle with reading and writing. This story reflects how collaboration between the school and community can support a child in overcoming emotional, behavioural, and academic challenges. Maulida is currently in Grade 4 and dreams of one day becoming a teacher. In her free time, she enjoys helping with household chores, showing her growth both at home and at school. We are so grateful to our partners and Child Sponsors who give children like Maulida an opportunity to improve their lives.

Real change happens one child at a time.
Become a Child Sponsor today and help transform a life like Maulida’s.

 https://www.lifechild.org.za/sponsor/