Hello, my name is Alimata. I just moved into the Sheltering Wings’ Orphanage. I used to live with my mother and siblings. My father died in 2009 from illness. My older sisters are all married. My younger brothers are still at home. There is no running water or electricity in our home. I used to help my mother by going to the well several times each day for water. It is not a deep well and sometimes the water would make us sick. I enjoy going to school. Last year, I failed the nationwide standardized test so I could not pass into the next grade. I want to try again. If I did not go to school this year, I would have been given in marriage and I would have had to give up my dream of becoming a midwife. The pastor in my village has asked if I could move to the orphanage to protect me from being forced into marriage. In the past, Alimata’s mother has been able to afford to send her to school, but she is getting older and cannot afford all three of her children now. In her culture, when families cannot afford to feed their whole families, girls are often given in marriage to relieve some financial burden. This would have been the case for Alimata. Through her sponsorship, you can help achieve her dream of becoming a midwife and help her avoid being given in marriage.