My name is Kolpona Akter. I was born in 10th July, 1999 in the slum of Dhaka. Please be a part of my journey to University.

My family used to live in a small village of Sherpur , Bangladesh. My father was doing a small business of coal with 2 or 3 business partners . My father came in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh for the business to support my family back in the village. Our family was going well until the business partners of my father betrayed him, they took all the money of my father and forceful gave him some sort of medicine as result my father because mentally sick.  My family became financial broke as my father was the only income source of the family. My mother didn't get any help from the relatives to support our situation.

Without seeing any other option my mother took a really big decision to come in Dhaka with a lot of uncertainty in her mind for the treatment of my father and easier life for us.

We rented a small room in the slums for our shelter. There was no electricity, no pure drinking water, pond was the only water source. We bathed in the pond and used the same pond water to cook meals.

Without any source of income, all my mother's saving was finished to feed us and as treatment cost of my father. At this point my mother started to work in peoples houses to keep feeding the family but the money she got was far more less the required money to feed 7 members of the family.

As a result my 2 elder sisters and my brother had to start working. Their study got stopped due to the unbearable poverty of my family.

In the beginning of 2007,when I was 7 years old I met a wonder woman named Maria Conceicao.

She had created MCF ( Maria Cristina Foundation) to help children of Dhaka break out of poverty. She opened up a school to educate children for free  who can not afford school fees. I joined in her school and my life started to change along with 600 more kids like me. She believes in only education can help anyone break the circle of poverty. Education will open up opportunities for children and families.

In the same year my father died as a result my family fell in the deep ocean of unfortunate. 

Few months later my mother wanted to stop my education so that I could start working for the family at the age 8. When Maria heard that I had to stop my education to support my family it broke her heart into pieces. To continue my education Maria start to support my family with house rest and helped us as much as she could by giving rice, potatoes and so on. She knew that education is the only power I could have to break out of poverty.

At this point in my life I know Maria was right. I have completed my grade 12 last year with the help of MCF. What  I learned from Maria is that if you want something in life you have to work hard for it. Even if you fail 1,2,3 times you can never give up on your goals.

In 14th Nov 2019  I got an opportunity to do an internships in Dubai at  "Eagle Burgamann" as a office Assistant. So I went in Dubai and completed the intern, it helped me build my confidence.

As I have completed my grade 12, I want to study further more. I got an opportunity from IPB (Instituto Politecnico De Braganca) for my University education. I will be the only girl from my family to study in University. For that I am raising 7000 USD as my University costs. I am doing 42km marathon to show my determination to study in University. 

I need all of your love and support to my journey to University. Please make a donation of any amount to support me in my goal. You can also help me by sharing this message in your networks. 

Thank you