Precious is sponsored by someone else - I write to her as her 'writing buddy' because her sponsor does not write to her.
Precious was born on March 11th, 1990 and is now 12 years old. She lives in Mabwetuba community in Mazabuka District, which is 91 km south of Lusaka the capital city of Zambia. Most of the residents of this area are subsistence farmers - cattle, goats, pigs, vegetables. However disaster recently befell the community when over 3/4 of the cattle population died from foot and mouth disease. This left this rich Tonga community in almost dire destitution and hunger, because almost all the oxen used for ploughing also died.
Precious likes to play with dolls, making models, and playing with friends. She would like to be a doctor when she grows up.
She is in primary school and walks there by foot, a journey of 30 minutes. She is in the third grade and her favorite lessons are mathematics and English.
The house which Precious and her family live in is rented. It is a small house made of unfired mud bricks with a corrugated metal roof.
Precious's family are:
Annie - her mother. She works as a laborer and is attending vocational education.
Getrude - her niece.
Matron - her cousin. She attends primary school.
Her father does not live with them as her parents have separated. |
