For too long, Abdalla seemed hopeless. His people bravely endured, running an uphill race against the burden of extreme poverty, sickness, and scarcity. Not anymore. After I came to the school I now have a warm meal every day and I start learning. I hope to be a teacher, so I can help other children.

When I was younger, my mom remarried after her divorce, but our new dad was mean to us, my brother and sister and me. My grandmother was one of the teachers at our church’s preschool, and she loved us and provided for us until she got sick. The church took care of grandmother as she battled cancer, and welcomed my sister and me to sleep with the other orphans.