“I’ve never thought my mom would give up drinking and start taking care of us. I feel free to be a kid again, and to do what I was supposed to do long ago. I really want to finish the 8th grade. At the centre I am told I was a quick learner and I do very well in the literacy course. I prefer to learn and write on the board, rather than to care for children. I do not care what anybody says. I want to be proud of my education, and not with of a husband and child. I think this trend with having children very early should end, I am telling all the girls that school is more interesting and important as well as that they have time for the life of an adult later. This is what the women at the literacy group are always telling me.”
Izabela*, 16, is the eldest of her six brothers and sisters. She left school at eight years old to care for them. Each morning, she got them ready for kindergarten and school, dressed them and made breakfast. When the case of her family came to the attention of the social workers at the centre, they did everything they could in order to remedy the situation, and, within two years, they managed to find jobs for the parents and made a normal childhood for Izabela possible.
She joined the literacy group at one of our centres in Romania and began to start from scratch, as if it were the first time when she saw a book and letters. she proved to be a very good student. Since February 2019, Izabela is registered and learning at the official courses within the program „Second Chance”. Finally, after many years, she is back in normal school. Sometimes she feels ashamed because of her age, but she has learned to proudly wear her school bag and is very determined to finish her compulsory education.
After school, Izabela wants to learn to sew or make artistic handmade crafts and learn more things together with her friends.
*The name was changed due to privacy reasons.