Vakhim, a buffalo boy, is now an outstanding student

“I am very happy that I can go to school regularly and get high scores in class,” says an 11-year-old boy, Ping Vakhim, with a cheerful smile.

 Vakhim lives in a nuclear family in a village where most people are farmers and so are his parents. He is the oldest child. He is now in Grade 6 and has been a sponsored child for about two years. Sitting on the bamboo bed under a wooden house, Vakhim did not hesitate to tell his story.

 “When I was about nine years old, I could not go to study on time nor regularly since I had to herd buffalos” Vakhim says.

“It was very hard to herd buffaloes because it was so hot and sometimes the buffaloes went to eat the rice plants of other farmers. Because my family is very poor and I am the only son, I looked after the buffaloes while my father and mother went to work in the rice field. 

 “I was blamed by rice field owners when my buffaloes ate their rice. I was ashamed and could not do anything, I just kept silent because it was my fault.

 “I also looked after my little sister while mom and dad went out for work. Seeing other children going to school made me feel so lonely here in the house because I am busy with my sister. Sometimes I was late for class and sometimes I was absent. I usually herded buffaloes two days in a week.

 “I was so scared staying in the house alone with my little sister,” he adds.

 When asking why he was so scared, he replies with a shy expression, “Because I was afraid of ghosts at noon time.”

 “I used to ask mom to allow me to go to school regularly and I didn’t want to go to herd buffaloes any more. I wanted to study well.

 “Because of my busy time of taking care of my little sister and herding buffaloes, I got a poor score in class and I didn’t feel happy at all when I saw my score,” he says as he looks away on the ground.

“At that time, I did not know a lot about the importance of a child’s education. I just knew that he had to help me in my daily work since I was busy working in the field,” says his mother with regret.

 “Since then, there was staff from World Vision’s organisation that came to invite me to join a meeting. Then I learnt a lot from the meeting. We shared ideas and experiences about encouraging children to go to school.

 “I joint several meetings with World Vision and I learned that I should allow my son, Vakhim to go to school regularly.

 “My husband and I decided to sell our buffaloes and rent a local tractor to plough the field instead of having Vakhim herd them. He needs more time to study. Gradually, we can own a tractor by using the little money we’ve saved and by selling some stuff in the house.

 “It was hard at first when we bought it (the tractor) but we needed to reduce some daily expenses. My son’s studies is more important,” she adds.

 Vakhim continues that, “I now get good scores and get praised by my teacher. I stand ranked number two in my class. I like mathematics and I am good at it too because I have enough time to study.

 “I also joined in World Vision activities like drawing pictures and writing letters to sponsor. I really enjoy playing with all those children in my village when there is these activities happening.”

 Vakhim wants to be a policeman when he is older.

 “I always watch my uncle as he wears a very nice uniform and I like that uniform. I want to help my society by catching thiefs and robbers.

 “Thank you World Vision staff who always encourage me to study hard and tell my mom and dad to allow me to go to school regularly.

 “I want all parents to think about their children’s education,” Vakhim ends.