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.

Aida was born in Nampula province. She is a very quiet girl, friendly, intelligent and likes to play with her friends of the same age in the neighborhood she lives. When the girl was 2 years old, her parents separated for social reasons. The father died in 2011, victim of disease. Even separated, the father helped to support his daughter while living with her mother in Nampula. After her father's death, the family moved to Beira and began to face many difficulties; even the mother having gotten a job as a cleaner, her earnings are not enough to pay the school expenses. As Aida is a very good student and hardworking, she deserves help for her dreams to become true.

Jamal was born in Sofala province. He is a very quiet and humble boy. Respectful and polite with all older people and a good friend to other children. When back from school he makes his homework and helps his grandfather, then he goes out to play football with his friends. He is orphaned of father who died in 2005, victim of illness. His father used to be a truck driver helper while his mother works in a nursery school. Jamal lives with his grandfather because with what his mother earns, she cannot sustain her son. The grandfather often helps her as well with rice from the field he is planting. Without help, he will not be able to proceed with his studies.

Fernando was born in Sofala province. He is a very humble boy, does not have many friends and spends more time at home when he is not at school. His favorite hobby is listening to music at home. In 2012, the parents separated due to social problems. In 2013 his father died. He used to be a carpenter. After his father's death, Fernando’s mother abandoned him. His grandmother took care of him and then he moved to live with his aunty. The aunt has 2 children and does not make any activity that generates income to sustain the family. Her husband does little jobs in the construction field to help the family survive. When the uncle does not get a job, they may spend a day without a meal.

Ahmed Daud Osman is a 15 year old from Hargeisa, Somaliland. He was raised in the Hargeisa Orphanage, and enrolled at Abaarso School of Science and Technology two years ago. He is now entering the ninth grade and is excited to begin a new year. Ahmed’s favorite subjects are math and science. In the future, he wants to be a professor. “Somaliland has many universities, but the education is not good. I want to teach the adults,” he says. Ahmed is not only compassionate, but also deeply introspective. When asked what is the most important lesson he’s learned at Abaarso, he took a moment to reply. “I learned how to be patient when you meet challenges.”

Rosa was born in Sofala province. She is a very calm and a smiling girl. She loves to play with her friends of the same age. She is orphaned of father, who died in 2011, victim of illness. He used to do little jobs in the construction field. After her father's death, her mother abandoned the children and disappeared to an uncertain part until today. No one knows if she is alive or not. Rosa went to live with her uncle. His work is helping the fishermen pulling the nets. With the salary he earns, he is not able to sustain all the needs of his family. If the girl will not get support, she will have to stop studying.

Aamiin grew up in the Hargeisa Orphanage Center, in the capital city of Somaliland. For several years before coming to Abaarso he attended Abaarso's tutoring program in the orphanage, where he was taught by older Abaarso students. He excelled in this program, and was admitted into Abaarso's first class of 7th graders in 2013, along with three other students from the orphanage. Given his background, the fact that he is at Abaarso makes him a real success story.

Elton was born in Sofala province. He is a nice and intelligent child, and likes to play marbles with friends of his age. Elton’s father died in 2005. He used to be a guard. After his father's death, his mother remarried. Her husband would like to help but the business of selling second hand clothes is not of great sustainability, and the income is just enough to pay the rent and a minimum for the family to survive. Without help, his dream to follow up his studies may fall apart.