Matata is a daring young boy who believes that success is often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable. He is the last born in a family of four. His parents are unemployed and largely depend on subsistence farming, which has been negatively affected by frequent severe droughts. Most of the rural roads in his village are very impassable and this has pushed him towards achieving his dream of becoming an engineer. Since Matata was a young boy, he has always liked playing football not only at home but also in school and he was the goalkeeper for his school team.

Barbra's father is HIV positive and permanently invalid. Her mother has no source of income and therefore cannot afford her an education.

David's parents abandoned him in the hands of his grandmother who has no means of getting him an education. He needs help to continue with his education.