Ibrahim: A doctor or 14 hours at the market for €0.15 an hour?

Sixteen-year-old Ibrahim has a clear dream – he wants to become a doctor and help others. Instead of school and textbooks, however, every morning at six o'clock he heads to work at the vegetable market. He works 14 hours a day to keep his family afloat.

A vegetable market instead of a school desk

Ibrahim’s life has not been easy since childhood. When he attended the Chalantika Centre, he had the chance to go to school and work towards his dream. But two years ago, a series of heavy blows hit the family – the pandemic, a fire in the slum, and severe illnesses affecting both of his parents. Ibrahim had to leave school and become the family's main provider.
Today, he sells vegetables at the market. He works from six in the morning until nine at night, with a single one-hour break for a meal. For 14 hours of physically demanding work, he receives 250 taka – around €2. That works out to a mere €0.15 an hour.
Despite his deep exhaustion, he hasn't lost hope. He still believes that one day he will return to the classroom and continue on the path towards his dream.

When a fourteen-year-old brother has to grow up too soon

This heavy burden has also fallen on his fourteen-year-old brother, Yasin. He too had to leave school to start earning money. He cuts and prepares fish at the fish market. In a month, he earns around 10,000 taka, but half of that amount is swallowed up by renting his stall space. That leaves the family with roughly 5,000 taka (around €40).
Yasin is skilled with his hands and deeply devoted to his family. He only managed to complete two years of school.

Help in action – mother receives treatment and Mariam attends school

This family's story also shows how concrete help can change lives for the better. Thanks to donor support, necessary healthcare was secured for their mother, Nasima, and her youngest daughter, Mariam, was able to start school.
However, their father remains bedridden due to a serious illness, and the family is still paying off a large debt taken out for his treatment. Ibrahim and Yasin continue to bear most of the financial burden.

A story that continues

Ibrahim is sixteen years old. Every day, he spends long hours at the market, yet he hasn't given up on his dream. He wants to return to school, study, and one day help others himself.
His story is a reminder of how easily poverty can rob a child of their childhood and education, forcing them prematurely into the role of breadwinner. At the same time, it shows that timely and targeted help can break down these obstacles step by step and restore children's hope for a brighter future.