Nor-ain is among the thirty, second grade students of the BRAC Learning Centre, established by CFSI under the Basic Education Project in Sitio Poblacion, Kapatagan, Lanao del Sur. After her father’s death — the loss of her family’s bread winner — and her mother’s difficulty in meeting the needs and expenses of five children, Nor-ain and her siblings were entrusted to various relatives.
Upon joining the BRAC Learning Centre, Nor-ain’s Learning Facilitator, Omaira saw potential in the skills and intelligence of the child. She noticed how Nor-ain made a routine of arranging the books, sweeping the room, and organizing the materials inside the classroom, as well as helping her fellow learners read. Omaira also grew to learn that Nor-ain could read fluently in both English and Tagalog, and loved reading not only storybooks but also other reading materials such as the guidebooks of the Learning Facilitators.
A month after her father died, Nor-ain was seen crying inside the room after having heard the news that her older brother was seen wandering around, away from home. She shared with Omaira the pain of losing her father and witnessing their family fall apart as well as the gratitude she had towards the BRAC Learning Centre and the people behind it, for giving her the opportunity to continue her schooling without expenses and leave her mother worry-free. It was this opportunity that had given her new hope — hope to move up to high school, finish her studies, work abroad, and eventually help her mother and reunite their family.
