By COMMON LANGUAGE PROJECT
Name: Akil Uram, 11
Home: Ayubi village in the Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan
Language: Urdu, Hindoka; some Pashtun and English
Religion: Islam
Favorite subject in school: English
Favorite foods: Mangoes, rice
Siblings: Akil has four brothers and three sisters
Father’s job: A farmer of potatoes and corn
What would you like to say to kids in the U.S.?: “I want to say thank you to American kids for collecting money for earthquake relief. They helped us build a temporary school and get chairs and beds.”
Akil also told us about his experience in the earthquake last fall: “I was at school. It happened during English class. There was a big movement and we all ran outside. The headmaster told us to start praying. The building collapsed, but only three children were hurt. Later, I went home and found out that my mother had been killed when our house collapsed.”
Learn a little Urdu!
Hello: Salaam-a-Laikum
Good Bye: Khuda Hafiz
Rice: Chawal
Dog: Kutha
Cat: Billi
Book: Kitab
Boy: Larka
Girl: Larhki