Hoorizad's Story

My name is Hoorizad, and I am 14 years old. Life has been tough since my father passed away. My mother shoulders all the responsibilities at home, working tirelessly in different houses—cooking and cleaning—to earn money for our family. I want to help her, so I’ve learned to do embroidery. I also go with her to clean because her back hurts.

I have three sisters and three brothers. My mother works hard to provide for us, but two of my sisters were married at a young age because of poverty. Now, I’m the oldest one at home. My mother’s workload is immense, and at night she can’t sleep because of the pain. I hear her groaning, and it keeps me awake too. I wish I could do more to help her.

Other kids often make fun of us, calling us Bechara (pitiful, helpless) because we’re poor. I hate that word. I wish my father was alive; maybe our lives would be better. Still, I’m determined to help my mother. I want to buy stationery for my brothers, but we can’t ask my mother—she might feel sad. Sometimes she promises to get us what we need, but she just can’t afford it.

Recently, I’ve been able to earn a little money by doing embroidery, and it has made me happy. It’s easier work, and I enjoy it. Cleaning is harder. I hope I can continue with embroidery so I can better support my mother and family.