Consider...Sisters alone

Amina is a single mother of two daughters, eight-year-old Safya and five-year-old Mila, and a health aide at the local hospital. She immigrated to Canada three years ago from Pakistan. Amina and her daughters live in a downtown Vancouver neighbourhood. No family or close friends live nearby. Safya in Grade 3 and Mila in Kindergarten attend the local elementary school. Amina drops the children off in school playground every morning at 8:30 am. They have lunch at school and come home together at 3:15, the end of the school day.

Amina placed her daughters’ names on waiting list of the childcare centre located in the school two years ago and is still waiting. Amina must leave her children home alone after school, on school holidays, and on professional development days. She is the sole financial support for her family. Mila has severe food allergies, and Amina has used her sick and vacation days to care for her.

Safya takes her caring role seriously and plans numerous activities for herself and Mila. But when Mila has an allergic reaction, Safya panics. She fears not having an adult around to help. Safya is not able to take part in after school activities.

The crime rate in their neighbourhood is high. Amina warns Safya and Mila to stay inside when they are alone. Sometimes children in their apartment building ask them to come and play in the building parking lot. Safya does not want to disobey her mother, but she and Mila are bored cooped up inside the apartment.

One beautiful sunny day, three children that live in their apartment building knocked on their door and asked them to play outside. Safya knew this may be dangerous but could not stop Mila from running out the door. Confused as to what to do and worried about Mila’s health, Safya made the decision to go out and watch over the children until her mother returns home.

When Amina arrived home from work, she saw Safya and Mila playing in the apartment building parking lot.  She brought the girls inside and became very upset with Safya. Now Amina feels guilty that she must leave the girls alone. She feels trapped between needing to provide for her family and expecting Safya to care for herself and her sister.