Teen got by with help from teacher and friends

Hard-working teen: Farah (blue shirt) playing with youngest brother Putra Aqil Razieq Abdul Razaq, two, as (from left) mum Hasliza and brothers Sephian Najmie and Aduka Alif look on.

JOHOR BARU: Teenager Farah Marcella Bandi had no choice but to start working at age 14 to help put food on the table for her family.

After her father left them a few years ago, Farah, 18, her mother and five siblings faced financial difficulties and moved from place to place, usually cramming into a rented room.