Riyana is 12. She has just finished grade four at school and passed all her subjects with good marks. Her favourite subject is English and she is determined to be a teacher when she is older.

A few years ago Riyana's home was burned to the ground. She was left with nothing, apart from the clothes on her back. Her parents had left the children at home while they looked for work. Too young to know what to do, they left home without putting the fire out. The fact that she is thriving at school has made her mother Phulmaya very happy as she hopes it will give her daughter a better and more secure life than her own.


Since her family started taking part in the programme run by Save the Children, they have acquired four goats and two chickens. They have also planted seeds for their kitchen garden and receive farming tips at weekly village meetings.