Kientega, Germaine

Germaine is about 12 years old and in the 5th grade.  Her father died from an unknown illness in 2005, leaving his wife and 3 kids.  The oldest child is Emil, 16 years old and in high school. The youngest is Claire, 4 years old.

Germaine and her family live in a small village called Moutoulou.  Their home is a small round hut with thatched roof in the courtyard of her grandparents.  You can imagine, they have no electricity and they get their water from a nearby pump.  They have a couple goats.  Mom and Emil farm a field of millet together to support themselves.  Emil lives with extended family in the town of Yako during the school year in order to attend high school; but he comes home on weekends and summer break.