Who is Maisha from Say You're One of Them and what is their importance?

Twelve-year-old, Maisha, is a prostitute in the story "Ex-Mas Feast." She became a prostitute at the age eleven and is popular among white tourists. She is also training her little sister, who is ten, about working on the streets. Maisha shares all her earnings with her family, and eventually finds a spot working in a brothel to help pay for her brother's education.