Valeria lives with her mother and older sister. Her father left the family when she was a baby, and does not provide any support. Valeria got very good grades last year and likes studying, particularly natural sciences. She also likes to read in her spare time and spends a lot of time playing with her two cats.

Renata is an excellent student and has regularly achieved very high grades. She loves music, singing and football, and is a keen reader. As her mum works guarding cars in the street, Renata often also does her homework outdoors by the side of the road.

Ivana lives with her mother, step-father, adopted grandparents and a younger brother. She is a keen student and has so far done well at school. In her spare time, she loves listening to music. She also enjoys coming to the singing classes held on Saturdays at the Condor Trust.

Milena was born in Santo Domingo de los Colorados, but the family moved to Quito shortly afterwards. She is the youngest member of the family. She likes studying and has found it difficult not having face-to-face lessons during the pandemic. She has particularly missed the dance classes and presentations wearing traditional Ecuadorian dress, which the school organised.

Genesis was the best student in her class this last year, and she enjoys school very much. She is the third of four children, and lives with her brothers, sister and mother, after her parents separated last year. She does not yet know what she would like to do when she finishes school. At the moment, she enjoys music and has begun to learn to play the cello at school.

Yanela is an only child and is sad that she has no father and no brothers or sisters. She is a determined student and has done well at school. In her spare time, she listens to music and loves to swim. When she is older, she would like to become a swimming teacher.

Kimberly is the oldest of three children and lives with her brother, sister and parents in a mountain village just outside Quito. Another baby is on the way and Kimberly is really looking forward to his/her arrival. At the moment, her ambition is to become a teacher.

Alison lives with her mother in a village just outside Quito. She likes listening to music in her spare time. At school her favourite subjects are Spanish and maths. In the future she'd like to work as a policewoman.