Israt Tahan, born 11.14.1987

Her father is a trolley puller. A trolley puller is someone who has to pull a cart by hand which is loaded full of various goods. His monthly salary is approximately € 20.-. Israt had to leave her job in a restaurant in 1995 because she went down with tuberculosis. She received medical treatment and regular meals at H.E.L.G.O. which managed to restore her health. She is still, today, very thin. As previously mentioned the Indians dislike talking about themselves so consequently we needed a lot of time to find out the reason for her being so underweight. Eventually a psychologist managed to find out that Israt's only meal was the one she received at the centre. She received no food at home whatsoever meaning that she was very hungry in the evening causing her to sleep badly. This lack of food caused her stomach to rumble the next morning in school and therefore could not concentrate.