WITH another school year beginning today, Madur Lata of Jittu Estate in Raiwaqa, Suva is proud that her struggles have enabled her to provide for her eight-year-old grandson who she looks after.
Yesterday, the emotional grandmother looked back at how she had to skip meals to save money so she could buy her grandson’s school stationery.
Her grandson, Prince Arshad Prasad, has been under her care since he was born.
Ms Lata said they depended on Social Welfare assistance and money she earned from working as a house girl to survive on a daily basis.
“I am only working for the sake of my grandson because I don’t want him to drop out of school,” she said with tears streaming down her face.
“I spent more than $60 to buy two new pair of uniforms, books and a new school bag, but I wasn’t able to buy him new sandals so he will just use his old sandals.
“Sometimes I will skip meals like lunch and breakfast just to save money for his school stuff because I want him to be fully prepared when the school term starts,” she said.
Ms Lata said her routine would now be back to normal because school had started.
“Now I will have to wake up early in the morning to prepare his lunch and breakfast on weekdays. I always make sure that breakfast is ready before he wakes up every morning. As a grandmother and guardian, I will do anything so that he can achieve his dream to become an aircraft engineer in the future.
“He never complains and is always content with everything I provide for him, this is something I love about my grandson,” she added.
