Halima, a World Vision sponsored child, is six years old. She lives in Tanzania with her family in a small mud brick house with a straw roof.

“I wake up at 7am,” Halima says. “I brush my teeth, I wash my face. I take tea. If I am not going to nursery school I take care of the baby while my mother cleans.”

On school days, Halima gets ready and heads to class for a 7.30am start. “At school I learn to write and I like learning English,” she says. “I like drawing,” she adds.   

Halima’s mum and dad know the importance of education for their children. “If the children do well in school they are more likely to get into high school,” says Halima’s mother Zaituni. “I hope for my kids to pass their exams.”

“World Vision provided desks for the school and renovated the classrooms,” Halima’s father Adamu adds.

Halima gets home in time for lunch. “After I come back from school I eat ugali (a staple maize-based dish in Tanzania) and play with my friends and sometimes eat rice.”

Next, it’s time for some chores. “I sweep and wash the dishes,” says Halima. “Sometimes I collect water with my brother.”

Her family used to have to walk a long way to collect water, which was dirty. Since World Vision drilled a bore and built a pump in the community they no longer need to, much to Zaituni’s relief.

“It was painful to carry water all that way. At the beginning we drank dirty water and we would feel pain and get diarrhoea,” Zaituni explains. “Now that I don’t have to walk all that way to collect water, I can have more time to work on the farm.”

Halima’s family grows maize and beans on their three acres of land. “World Vision gave us maize seeds and the yield was good. We sell some maize and get money to buy school uniforms and books and pens and we keep the rest to eat,” says Halima’s father.

“The children are very happy that they don’t have to spend all that time helping to get water in the evening,” Zaituni continues. “Now the children have time to do their homework. Our children are performing better at school now.”

After chores and homework, Halima squeezes in some more play time before dinner. “I play with my brother and sisters. I like my brother and sisters,” she says. Her favourite game is hopscotch.

After a dinner of ugali, Halimi gets ready for bed at around 9pm.

Halima’s parents say they are “very pleased that someone so far away has sponsored Halima”.

“We are healthy and happier and hope to build an even better life for the future,” says Zaituni.