Bernadette is her mother's firstborn and currently lives with her grandmother. Her mother became pregnant while still in school, forcing her to drop out. The father abandoned the pregnancy and has since completely neglected Bernadette, despite being alive and married with other children.
 
Bernadette’s mother later married another man, with whom she has one child. However, this man refuses to accept Bernadette into his home or provide for her. He allows Bernadette’s mother to stay with him, but only without Bernadette. As a result, Bernadette has been left in her grandmother's care.
 
Her mother is a peasant farmer who works a small plot of land where her current husband built a modest house. Whatever she grows is mostly for household consumption, and any surplus income must be handed over to her husband. This arrangement makes it impossible for her to support Bernadette. Meanwhile, the grandmother, though caring and devoted, is weak and unable to pay Bernadette’s school fees.