Earlier this month, we received the sad news that a girl from our sponsorship program passed away suddenly at the age of 17. She wasn't ill, which came as a huge shock to everyone. She is survived by her mother and an older brother.
Earlier this year, we shared Kaldiya's story on our website. She was a model girl who worked hard, both in school and outside of school. She lived in poverty with her mother in the southern province of Phang Nga. Only with the help of Siam-Care was she able to attend school. We heard nothing but positive things about her from her mother, her teachers, and neighbors. Even during our visits to her and her mother, she was always polite, interested, and well-behaved. We are deeply saddened by this loss.
Omdat de familie islamitisch is, willen ze God’s wil accepteren en geen autopsie laten verrichten. Hierdoor blijft de exacte doodsoorzaak onbekend. We weten alleen dat ze plots onwel werd, begon te trillen en is gaan liggen. Niet lang hierna is ze overleden. Moeder, die erbij was, is uiteraard diep geraakt. Met Siam-Care staan we om haar heen en bieden een schouder om op uit te huilen.
Below, we'd like to share the story we wrote about her earlier this year, to honor this special girl.
Old post, March 2024:
Kaldiya is een 15-jarig meisje die samen met haar moeder Cha (1972) in het zuiden van Thailand woont. Haar vader leeft nog maar is volledig uit beeld. Kaldiya’s grootste wens? “Ik wil naar de universiteit en docent worden”. Dit is een verhaal over nooit opgeven.
When Kaldiya was two, her mother left her father because he was an absent and bad father and husband. This left her to care for Kaldiya alone while earning an income. She explains: “I sell Thai desserts for 5 baht each. My expenses are 3 baht per dessert, so I earn 2 baht each. Most mornings I start at 3 a.m. and sell the desserts at the market and to nearby shops.” Siam-Care helped her buy baking supplies, which she uses to make the desserts. Despite her hard work, she doesn't earn enough to pay for Kaldiya's education.
Work hard
Because of her mother's Islamic background, she is uneducated, and Kaldiya wasn't destined to study. Unfortunately, her ex-husband refused to work, so she has been working since her daughter was born. With Siam-Care's help, Kaldiya is still able to attend school. She is currently in the third year of high school and is working hard to get ahead. "Together with friends, I save 10 baht every day to pay my registration fee later. Siam-Care's support helps enormously; I wouldn't be able to do it on my own." Kaldiya also makes rice at home every day so she doesn't have to buy lunch at school and saves money. Siam-Care bought a school outfit for Kaldiya and covers travel expenses to and from school.
Big dream
Kaldiya's biggest dream? "I'd like to go to university and then become a teacher. Tuition is high, but with the help of Siam-Care, I can get there. I'm also practicing as a teaching assistant at a weekend school for Muslims. This is giving me the necessary experience." When we ask her about her future dreams, she's quick to answer: "I want my daughter to be able to complete her studies, which was never possible for me." She and her daughter also hope to one day own a moped, so they can more easily travel to school and work.