Slum girl to attend UNICEF summit

FROM SURAT TO GERMANY: Yasmin hopes to learn more about AIDS awareness campaigns during her visit to Germany.

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Surat: Seventeen-year-old Yasmin Shah Faqueer always dreamt of becoming a doctor, but had to drop out after Class 8.

The dream may be over, but today, she does her bit to the society by spreading awareness about AIDS. And now her work is getting noticed.

UNICEF has selected her to attend the Junior 8 Summit scheduled to take place in Germany from May 31. Yasmin, who lives in a slum in Surat, is one of the 74 children chosen to participate in the Summit.

"I have prepared for a discussion on the issue there. I really want to know what other countries have done regarding HIV-AIDS. I'm looking for ward for the visit," says a visibly excited Yasmin.

Yasmin was forced to give up education because of her family's financial difficulties. She later took up a part time job with the Surat Municipal Corporation's HIV awareness project, in which UNICEF is a partner.

Says her mother, Shehzadi Shah, "She has worked hard and earned a name for herself. People opposed her joining the AIDS campaign but now she has done all of us proud."

Yasmin hopes to learn more about AIDS awareness campaigns during her visit to Germany and implement them in her own city.