My name is Endurance. I am the first daughter of my family from Delta State.
My life as a first daughter
My parents are struggling in the village. They cannot even afford to send my younger siblings to school. Every day I think about them and cry
After secondary school, I had no money. My uncle took me to the city to help him in his accessories business. He promised that if I work hard for him, he will open my own store for me one day.
Years in his shop
For 5 years, I worked for him. I woke up early, opened shop, served customers, cleaned, and carried loads. I did everything.
But life with him was very hard.
He did not allow me to talk to my siblings on phone. He did not allow me to go out. He did not allow me to visit my family in the village. Anytime he saw my siblings' number on my phone, he would flash my phone and delete it. I was alone, cut off from my own family.
I endured because I thought at the end, he would keep his promise.
After 5 years, I left with nothing. No money. No savings. I don't even have a bank account. The promise of my own store never came.
Now I am searching for jobs, with nothing in my hand. My family is still suffering in the village, my siblings are not in school, and as the first daughter, I feel like I have failed them.
I am writing this because I know many first daughters are going through this same pain. You sacrifice for family, you work for years, but you are left with nothing.
My new dream is to become a baker. I want to learn baking and open a small bakery one day. Something that is my own, where no one can control me, and I can support my mother and my siblings to go to school.
Starting afresh
I don't have money to start, but I have hope. If you are reading this, please encourage me in the comments. Your words will give me strength.
Thank you for reading my story