The Little Match Girls in India

There is no cold weather in India, there is no snow. Children don't freeze to death in the streets. They work hard in their homes.

They make matchboxes, from morning until evening, 12 hours a day. There is no time to play, no time and no money to go to school.  They  make 1000 matchboxes a day and get 9 rupees for it.

Lakshmi is eleven year old. Her fingers are not blue from cold but black with chemicals. The chemicals get into her eyes and hurt them. She started to make matchboxes when she was 4 year old. She cannot read or write.

Her mother says: Why should I send my daughter to school? My sons already go. The girls work here until they get married. We need the money.

• How many years did Lakshmi not work in her life?
• How many years did Lakshmi work in her life?
• Can boys go to school?
• What do you think about the mother? Is she right?
• Do you know kids who don't go to school but work instead?