Takiya

Class 2, Roll 62
"I want to be a teacher when I grow up. I love playing tag with my friends and my favourite food is beef curry with rice."

Through our partnership with AlterYouth, Ratnabala is supporting Takiya, a Class 2 student from Narayanganj, Bangladesh, by contributing to her ongoing education through a structured monthly scholarship.

Takiya attends Rupshi Government Primary School in Narayanganj, where tuition is officially free. However, for many families, the true barriers to education are not school fees, but the ongoing financial pressures that make regular attendance difficult.

Takiya lives with her parents and two siblings in a small village in Narayanganj. Her father is physically disabled and is unable to work. Her mother is the sole breadwinner, earning income through domestic work in nearby households.

In situations like this, families often face difficult decisions. Even when school itself is free, costs such as books, uniforms, stationery, exam fees, transport, and the loss of income when a child is not working can push children out of education.

Ratnabala’s monthly contribution through AlterYouth is not a payment to the child, and not a school fee. Instead, it provides direct, conditional support to the household, helping relieve the financial pressure that might otherwise force a child to miss school or enter labour.

This support helps ensure that:

• Takiya can attend school consistently

• her family is not financially penalised for prioritising education

• schooling remains a stable, realistic choice month after month

The scholarship is tied to school attendance and progress, supporting long-term continuity rather than one-off aid. 

Monthly support creates predictability for families, helping them plan, cope with fluctuations in income, and keep children enrolled even during difficult periods.

This approach focuses on prevention, not crisis response, addressing the economic pressures that lead to dropout before they take effect.