What would you do if you were stuck in a cycle of poverty and the oldest child in the family? What if your mother continued to have children even though there was no food to feed the ones that were already born? How would you break free, where would you turn?
In Laguna I met L, a 30-year-old mother of 3 who shared with me her life story. She was nervous because of her level of English but I understood her quite easily. She shared that she’s one of 16 children, the youngest now 4. She grew up in a very poor village and was the oldest in her family. Their family was hungry, poor, and without much hope. At the age of 16 she married another boy from the village—because in him she found love and comfort that she so longed for. Being married meant that she wasn’t a burden to her parents any more; she was now to fend for herself. One year later a baby girl entered their lives. Because she was an older sister to so many children, she didn’t really desire to be a mother and told me that she even hated children. She certainly did not want to follow in her mother’s footsteps.
As L’s daughter grew up, a son was added to the family—then years later another son. She said 3 are plenty for her. I’m sure it’s still a struggle to keep a family of 5 fed but far more manageable than if there were more.
As she mentioned her hatred towards children, I could tell that there had to be a change in her at some point because her work now is directly linked with children. About 7 years ago her heart changed and softened regarding many aspects of life, including her acquiring a love for children. She continued to share that every afternoon her family travels by motorbike to a remote village to teach children there. Her daughter leads music lessons for the children while she teaches young children basic knowledge.
A dream L and her husband share is to establish a Goducate learning center in this village. I had the privilege of visiting this village, being welcomed by the children and parents alike. There is a plot of land next to the yard where they’re currently meeting that is for sale. They’re dreaming of getting that piece of land to build a center where she will educate the children of the village. Their family would move out to this village to help the people by living among them.
