Oyena Teyise

Country: South Africa

My birthday is 2010-07-03

Status: Vulnerable Child

My favorite subject is English.

I enjoy playing netball.

I want to be a lawyer.

Oyena Teyise is 14 years old and lives in Thafeni village with her grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Her favorite subject is English, and her favorite sport is netball. When Oyena grows up, she wants to be a lawyer. She wants to help her community and her home. At school, she is in the choir and runs on the track team. One day, Oyena hopes her dreams come true. Oyena lives at Intlantsi Christian School in Fort White during the school week.  On the weekends, she goes back to her village, Thafeni, where she lives with her grandparents.  While Fort White has the most modern amenities available in the area, the surrounding villages are quite different.  In the villages, people collect water from a communal tap and use outhouses.  Though they have access to electricity, most villagers cannot afford to pay for an electric meter. Most of our children have grown up attending no-fee schools, where they are provided what may be their only meal for the day.  Most girls like Oyena do not finish high school.