Eva takes a selfie with her friends Tarik, Jane, Delfina and Mariam. Photo: Daniel Hayduk/ONE
My name is Eva, I’m 14 and live in Malinzanga, Tanzania. I want to wish you a Happy New Year, and ask you if you’ll do something amazing with me in 2015.
This year I finished my primary education at Mlowa School. It’s not been easy – my parents have not always been able to pay for my uniform and textbooks. But I did it and I’m really proud. My hope for 2015 is to start secondary school, so I can one day get my dream job as a policewoman and take care of my community. It’s harder for girls to stay in school here, but I’m going to do everything I can to make it happen.
Eva at home with her family in Malinzanga, Tanzania. L-R Her brother Amos, 9, father Shadrack, cousin Victoria, 10 months, sister Zawadi, 4, and brother Elia, 6. Eva’s mother was in hospital giving birth to a daughter. Photo: Daniel Hayduk/ONE
I live with my parents, my older brother Gedion, and my four younger sisters and brothers Margaret, Amos, Elia and Zawadi. I was born in 2000, the same year the Millennium Development Goals were set. During my lifetime, the number of people in the world who are extremely poor has been cut in half.
In my village some people now have mobile phones so know what’s going on in other places. New schools have been built so more of us are getting an education, and better roads help people travel around more easily.
Eva washes her face as she fetches water from the river 1km from her home, with her friend Rehema. Photo: Daniel Hayduk/ONE
But not everything is getting better. Trees are being destroyed and my parents say this makes it harder for them to grow crops. We have a water borehole next to our house but the level is too low, so instead I walk 1km to the river. I do this five times a day.
But I’m lucky. Although there are more schools, children from the poorest families or who have disabilities are still not getting an education. I see this and it makes me sad. There are also not enough jobs for young people leaving school, even when they move to the towns and cities.
Eva, right, at Malinzanga Primary School with Ziada (left) and Jane (centre). Photo: Daniel Hayduk/ONE
This year, as I turn 15, our leaders will agree a new plan for a better world. If they make it really good, and then actually stick to it, there could be almost no extremely poor people – anywhere – by the time I am 30. How cool would that be?
This is what I wanted to ask you about. Will you help make sure the new development plan is really great, and leaves no-one out?
I am a ONE member, like 6 million other people. Together we need to do more than ever before to build a better world – and demand better from our leaders.