Ummul-ayman

Ummul-ayman Ali Hassan is a 16-year-old young woman (born 2010) in Form 3 at Charity School, Bwejuu. She was transferred to this place from Jambiani Primary School after her excellent results from standard 6. She comes from a humble farming family where both financial and social support for education are limited. Her father is a constructor, her mother a hotel worker, and she lives together with a younger brother. The family struggles with meeting basic needs, including school fees and other school expenses such as uniforms, books, and examination.

Ummul-ayman cannot hear well. This problem becomes harder during cold seasons, when she requires medicines prescribed by a doctor at a regular hospital. However, she still must go to a specialized doctor, possibly to get hearing devices. On cold season she experiences immense pain which causes her to miss classes which can be a hurdle in her education. The parents must bring good food to the boarding school, contribute regularly to pay the breakfast, apart from the responsibility of paying for the tuition fee, uniform, and learning-equipment. The father, who has the same hearing problem, sometimes can also not go to work, so that the responsibilities fall on the mother.

Despite these hardships, Ummul-ayman has shown resilience in her studies and remains committed to completing her primary education. She believes that a scholarship would provide the stability needed to focus on learning and prepare successfully for the Form 4 exams in 2027. Her story reflects the situation of many children in rural Zanzibar, where financial struggles put education at risk. Her support will not only secure her future but also strengthen her family and community by giving her the opportunity to achieve her academic dreams of becoming a doctor.