João was born in Sofala province. He is a playful and smiling boy with many interests. He likes to play with friends in the same neighborhood. His father died in 2012, victim of illness. In life, he was selling products at the local market. After some time, his mother remarried, but the current husband pays no attention to his stepchildren. He is making little jobs as a driver here and there and he only provides food for the whole family with his low income, while the mother plants rice to help her husband with the household expenses. As there is no money to support the school expenses for the stepchildren, João hardly can fulfill his dream of becoming a teacher.

Sheilla’s father passed away and she does not know where her mother is. She and her three siblings live with her unemployed grandmother. She loves reading books and wants to be a journalist one day.

Pauline Moraa Pauline is a shy, bright, seven-year-old who is currently doing well in school after recovering from an unsafe family situation. Her loving grandparents sent her to Beyond Fistula due to concerns for her safety, and she has now happily adjusted to life here. The older women at Beyond Fistula are like her big sisters, and she loves her new 'family', as well as the opportunity to pursue her education.

Lilian is the last-born child in a family of six. Her father was involved in a motorbike accident and has been unable to support the family. Most of the elder siblings dropped out of school and are unemployed. Lilian is so determined to achieve her dream of becoming a doctor. Her good performance in her exams did not come on a silver platter. She had to wake up early in the morning to go to school to utilize electricity at school. At other times, she studied under the moonlight, as there was no source of light at home. She believes that without struggle there is no progress.

Nzioka is the lastborn child in a family of six. His parents are aged and only depend on subsistence farming to bring up their family. Although Nzioka faced a myriad of challenges in school, including being send home for school levies, he emerged the best student in his school. He aspires to be a doctor in future in order to help the less fortunate students in the society who suffer from various ailments so that they can study comfortably. Nzioka believes that working hard and believing in God makes everything possible.

Phanie's father died when she was ten years old due to brain cancer. Her mum runs a thrift shop where she sells second hand clothes. Her sisters works as a waiter in a hotel and uses whatever she earns to pay her own fees at the college where she is taking a degree in education. Her younger brother is in primary school. When Phanice was in primary school, she spent a lot of time out of school waiting for her parents to find some money to pay for her exam fees. Her life has changed now that she has been provided with enough books to read and also no longer misses class. "I thank Wema very much for the great impact they have had on my life and also the great teachers at this place and I am confident i will achieve an A after my four years here." -Phanice.

Nthenya is the firstborn child in a family of four. Her parents rely on odd jobs to cater for the family needs. ÊDespite many challenges, Nthenya emerged victorious in her exams. She aspires to be a doctor in future to treat the less privileged in the society especially children. She believes that one rises by uplifting others.

Despite many hardships in her young life, Quinter has been steadfast in continuing her education. At age 13, she became pregnant, had a difficult labor, and required medical help to recover. After her successful recovery to health, Quinter returned home to continue her schooling; she is being raised by her older sister. Quinter has not given up on her education or her hopes of one day becoming a doctor.