Nisma Nafi’ Badir

DOB: 15 June1996
Class: Secondary 1 (2008-2009)
Benefactor: Agnes Leung O. Y.
History: Nisma is a quiet girl who is well aware of her family's plight. She attends a government school at Tawfiqiyyah Daher in Cairo, where she practically receives no instruction. Her family cannot afford to put her through night school much less a private school. Her father died from a tumour just a year ago on Feb. 7th 2008. Nisma has 4 brothers: Kyrillos (8 yrs); Girgis (10 yrs); Áshraf (14 yrs); Násh’at (16 yrs). Her family came from Dayr Mawas in Minya. They moved to Cairo 7 years ago in search for a better life. The village where the late Mr. Nafi’ used to work as a labourer in the fields gave them no hope for the future. In Cairo he found work as a watchman in the building where the family still lives. Mrs Fayza the mother continues the work of her late husband. She receives a monthly salary of 200 egyptian lira (35 US$). A family such as hers would need at least US$450-500 a month just for basic needs. The parish of Anba Bishoy helps the family with 50 egyptian lira a month. The family lives below the staircase which is no more than 4 metres square. The mother, Nisma and the two smaller boys sleep in there. The two older boys sleep in the open terrace and when it's cold, they sleep on the staircase. The building itself is tottering. The family does the cooking along the staircase.

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