your family update
You Backed them and things began to change
“Whether we eat or not, we somehow keep living.”
When work is available, Theravani goes out to herd goats, feed cows or cut grass for their owners. She is paid only when someone calls her for work, and the money changes depending on the animals and the work available. The work is unreliabale and the income is little.
There are six people in the family. Her eldest son is married and lives with Theravani, along with his wife and children. Theravani lives with her 20-year-old daughter, her 13-year-old son and her eight-year-old daughter. Her son is in Grade 9, while her youngest daughter is in Grade 3.
The family grows vegetables like as chillies, eggplant and beans so they can eat some of what they produce. Theravani wants to make sure there is enough to eat at home for the children. Fish and other groceries must be bought, but their income is not enough to cover everything they need.
“Everything is a struggle,” Theravani says.
Her daughter studies at a relative’s house in the village, where they provides food and lodging. But Theravani is the one that pays the girl’s monthly class fees. Her son may need to stay in a hostel so he can continue attending school. She worries that without this support, he may leave his studies.
The family has moved from place to place and has never had a home or property of their own. This is one of the reasons her children aren’t able to study from home. They are now living on her mother’s land, temporarily, but she doesn’t know where they will stay in the future. Her married son and daughter-in-law will eventually leave with their children, but there is still no other house for the family.
Theravani borrowed money at interest to build a toilet when her mother was unwell. She repays what she owes by selling goats, cows and chickens when she can. The interest adds to the pressure on the small income she earns from caring for animals.
There are days when the family doesn’t eat until later in the day. Theravani cooks when there is food and stretches what they have as far as possible. She works hard in the garden and does whatever work she finds. She waits for payment at the end of the month for her work with the goats and cows, while continuing to look for whatever other work is available.
She wants her children to study and find suitable work according to their abilities. For now, she is trying to keep her son in school, pay her daughter’s class fees and find enough work to provide for the household.
Your support over the next two years can help Theravani work towards a steadier income and greater stability for the household.