Magaly lives in a small village on the outskirts of Quito with her mother and two sisters. Her mother does not have a stable job.

Fabiana is from Patakancha, a rural community above Ollantaytambo, Peru, where she is currently a youth leader in her community church. Fabiana graduated high-school a couple of years ago and has been trying to save up to continue her studies, but until Mosqoy’s scholarship opportunity came along, she didn’t have the means to continue her education. Fabiana will be pursuing her dream of becoming a leader in her community - a new, grassroots community-based tourism hub in the Sacred Valley - by studying Hotel Administration at a post-secondary trade institute in Cusco. She will also study English as a second language, be part of a holistic community leadership curriculum at Casa Mosqoy, and will continue to learn about her beautiful Quechua textile tradition that is a mainstay of her hometown.

Virginia is the first-born child in a family of four. Her father is a casual laborer while her mother is a housewife. After doing her final exam in 2015 and scoring well, Virginia could not join secondary school since her parents could not afford the fees. Her parents wanted her to get employed as house help. Her hopes of becoming a doctor and help people in need was diminishing. She decided to repeat grade eight and she emerged the best in her school. Her success was not without challenges. She lacked kerosene to study at night and could only use her daytime to study. Most of the time she was sent home due to lack of payment for school levies. Virginia is outgoing and determined to go against all odds to achieve her dreams.

Kathule is the lastborn child in a family of four. Her father passed on leaving the burden of upbringing their children with her mother who is unemployed. Without the bread winner, her mother resulted to selling all that was left by their father to keep the children in school. She is now left with nothing to sell and her daughter now faces the challenge of dropping out of school. Despite being sent home severally for school fees within the year, Kathule was able to perform exemplary in her end of year exams. She has a passion in medicine and would like to be a doctor in future. Kathule believes that education is the key to a prosperous future.

Julius is the last-born child in a family of seven. He completed his primary level education in 2017 and could not proceed to secondary school since his parents could not afford school fees. ÊHis parents are casual laborers and due to their old age, the burden of taking care of the large family has overwhelmed them. Julius is determined to achieve his dreams. He loves math and is looking forward to be an accountant in the future. He believes that education is the only key for a prosperous future.

Enelda was born in Beira in 2001. She is very humble and nice, intelligent and kind. During her free time, she likes to braid her friends' hair, go to church and help her mother with housework. Her father, who was a tailor, passed away in 2007. Her mother earns a living selling fruit in the area where she lives, but has a chronic disease that requires regular medication. Enelda has 3 younger siblings who attend primary school. Together they live in a single room house that does not have running water or electricity.

Family lives in poverty, many children. Cannot afford basic needs.

Even though life has been very hard, the efforts and support I got from the friends and well wishers has made me learn the disadvantages of depending on others. When i got the information about the scholarship my parents encouraged me to work hard and do my best in my studies. They helped to apply for the chance, and lucky enough I was called and got the opportunity to be one of the scholars.

Joseph is the second born child in a family of five. His elder brother dropped out of school due to lack of school fees. Since the passing on of his father, Joseph and his siblings have been staying with their mother who has taken over the responsibility of providing for her children. Though determined to make sure that her sons get the best, her health condition has affected her and can rarely manage to do manual work. After the death of their father, the extended family drove them out of their ancestral land. The family is currently living in a rented house in Wamunyu. Joseph is determined to change their family in future. He believes that hard work pays and in future he dreams of becoming a doctor, first to treat his mother and then other people in the society.Ê