Eline’s family works hard on their subsistence farm to make ends meet, but often lack the additional resources to pay for school fees. Eline has two siblings: a younger brother and an older sister. While attending secondary school in Form IV, Eline’s sister became pregnant. Eline’s family supported her through the pregnancy and now, Eline’s sister is back attending secondary school. Eline and her siblings are very thankful that their family supports their education despite obstacles. Eline is very close with her family and hopes to create a new future for them through her secondary education.

A very confident outgoing girl, with a bubly personality. She believes passionately that girls need to raise their voice for education and is concious of the opportunity that studying at the Milaan School represents for her. She participates in all school functions and does especially well at Rangoli events.

The daughter of a shopkeeper, Diksha became part of the Milaan School. Diksha is a student that works hard and has shown a strong desire to put in the effort to do her best in school. Someday she hopes to become a lawyer.

Sereti’s parents are both subsistence farmers — cultivating crops and raising livestock. Sereti helps her family on their farm during the weekend. Her father has three wives and many children. Sereti is the youngest of five, having one brother and three sisters. None of Sereti’s other siblings were given the opportunity to go to secondary school. Instead, they were all married immediately after finishing primary school. Sereti hopes to be able to contribute to her family and make them proud by becoming the first in her family to complete secondary school.

Prachi wants to be a teacher. She is quiet by nature and interested in wildlife. She loves reading picture books in the library. Prachi also has a vivid imagination and can often be found holding her classmates spellbound with her anecdotes of the characters she encounters in the picture books. She is also an active participant in cultural events in the school and in the top 5 in her class academically.

Nuura's family includes her grandmother, two grandfathers, two sisters, and four brothers. Nuura has grown up without her parents. Her experience has developed a sense of compassion for others from difficult backgrounds. With this sense of compassion, Nuura’s hope for the future is to provide services for orphans and the poor in her country. Through this work, her dream is that Somalis will be able to live together united. At the present moment, Nuura’s favorite classes are Social Studies and Science. Outside of class, she enjoys being with her friends and making each other laugh. Her favorite books are A Long Walk to Water, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Count Down, and The Blue Ghost.

Poonam has experienced financial hardship that has made it difficult for her to attend school some years. She is a part of the Swabhiman program, and while her parents are illiterate, they want Poonam to receive the best education. One day Poonam wants to be a teacher and start her own school.

Anju loves adventure and animals. She wants to become a veterinarian. She dreams of taking her knowledge of animals into far-flung villages and curing the sick animals, thus combining her love of adventure with her desire to help animals. Academically she works hard and is also very active in the school's cultural activities.