Dhaka, Sept. 19 -- At just 13, Yusuf Ali's life already carried the weight of hardship far beyond his age. Born into a poor family in Satashia village, his childhood was defined not by classrooms or playgrounds, but by the clang of hammers and the thick smoke of a city garage.

Yusuf's father, Abdul Awal, is a daily wage laborer. His mother, Monowara Khatun Mili, stays at home, while Yusuf's two sistersChoa and Toaremain dependent on their parents.

Poverty pushed the family into difficult decisions. Despite passing grade five at the age of 11, Yusuf was unable to continue his studies. Instead, he joined a garage to help his struggling family survive.

Each day, Yusuf woke to the call of his employer, not the school bell. He carried not b...