“Mother became lonely after fathers death. So she eloped. I was 11 years old. My eldest sister took care of us. Since I was little, I cleaned septic tanks. But the money was never enough to feed our mouths so my sister had to rely on a ‘bad occupation’. Men would come to visit her. Some would call her into the hotel rooms. Many sisters in our community have stopped relying on such things for money, but some still do. It is due to poverty, lack of food and lack of choices in life. It is only to fill their stomach and to fill their children’s.

I work hard to ensure that the same situation does not arise in the family. I married two years ago at the suggestion of my sister. She said, ‘Get married, start a family. Then you get government shelter.’ So I did. And I am hopeful. We do not have to be afraid of the sun and the rain after we move to government housing. Our first child is also due soon. And we have been stressing a lot about what is going to happen. If it is a boy, what is he going to do? If it is a girl, what is her future going to be like? Sometimes, when there is a problem and no money, I hear her cry at night. She cannot hide her whimpers nor her tears. I tell her not to worry. That is all I can say. I do not know what else to say.”