My birth brought a moment of happiness to the family, but it also added another responsibility to an already struggling household. With time, we became nine sisters and one brother.
Poverty had tightened its grip on our lives. To survive, the women in our home made incense sticks by hand. The small amount of money earned from this work helped us manage basic needs.
One of my elder sisters balanced her own schooling while teaching at a local school. The little income she brought home became a lifeline for the family.
Together, with patience and sacrifice, my family tried to keep the house running.
We did not have comfort, but we had resilience.
We did not have wealth, but we had courage.
And in that crowded home filled with struggles, hope continued to breathe.