GULLAM'S STORY

Thirteen year-old Ghullam Nabi is from Kandahar City, Afghanistan.

“Eid is fun and I go to my relatives' homes and get pocket money and many things to eat. We are poor so I wear used clothes on Eid but I eat cookies and dry fruits. On the big Eid [Eid ul Adha] I eat meat. I like to eat rice and meat but we cannot buy it every week. Generally, we have meat when someone from our neighbourhood sends some. It is very expensive and costs about 250 Afghanis (5 US$).

I live with my mother and my brothers. We live in a government orphanage which is supported by the Afghan Red Crescent.

There is no significant food shortage but we cannot afford to buy good food for ourselves. I am a student and cannot earn anything and my mother is mentally ill. We eat vegetables like potatoes and sometimes eggs.

Islamic Relief staff visited our orphanage and I got a meat pack from them. Last year, I also received a Ramadhan food pack from Islamic Relief. The food packs are very good because there is meat and other good things. My mother always prays for you for the food/meat packs because we use it for one month and cook meat and enjoy eating it. It is a very big help for our family. I got 5 kg of meat today and it will be enough for one month.

Our life is very hard; we cannot wear good clothes, cannot eat good food and we live in poor conditions. We don’t have any money.

We don’t have a house of our own, we were given one room in a government sponsored orphanage. It is made of mud and limestone. It’s a simple home and has basic washing and cooking facilities. My mother cannot work due to her condition.

I always pray to Almighty Allah to solve our problems.

I attend school with my second brother. My third brother is too young. My school is very good and I have many friends. Also the teachers are nice.

I wish to become a pilot and fly aeroplanes. My younger brother wants to become a doctor and I don’t know about the youngest one.

I thank Islamic Relief for giving me the meat pack. My mother will also be happy for this help and we will pray for you. I also want to help my mother get treatment for her illness. We are poor and do not have any money to treat her. Please help us and we will pray for you.”