"In our house, we lacked food and clothes. Sometimes I share clothes with my cousin. I rarely got anything to eat at home and sometimes it made it hard to concentrate in class. Sometimes my mom is able to make enough money washing clothes for us to eat but not always. My future plans and aspirations is that I would like to be a surgeon. My second plan is to help girl children in the community. In 10 years I would like to be in the United Kingdom helping Kenyan people with medical problems and doing research. I would also like to help street children."

Brenda is the 3rd born in a family of 4 girls. Her mother is a housewife and her father works as a casual laborer in Kibera. Despite the little income that her parents earn, they have always prioritized her education and made sure they pay for her school fees, books, uniforms and anything else required. Brenda has really internalized the significance of education and has become a well-rounded, dynamic, and ambitious student. Brenda dreams of studying medicine and engineering, both in an effort to uplift those who live in poverty. Through medicine, she aims to “give back to society, by advocating for free health facilities and accessible dispensaries for everyone.” Her main aim in studying engineering “is to come up with ideas that can help the unemployed people to make their ends meet by creating more innovations in the country.”

Mary's mother cooks chapati every day at 6 AM to sell. Sometimes she does not make enough money from selling the chapati and has to also wash clothes. Her mother was able to scrape together enough money for her to finish primary school, but she has always been unable to afford textbooks. Mary's father is jobless. Despite these struggles, Mary dreams of being an accountant one day. It is only through outside financial help that she will be able to finish secondary school and achieve her ambitions.

Roffine's father suffers from an undiagnosed mental condition. He disappears at times and then reappears unexpectedly. The family lives on a small piece of land and Her mother works in people's farms. During her primary school days, Roffine was regularly sent home for the small fees that her mother could not afford to pay in time. She is now very comfortable at Wema and she says it feels to her like her home. "I will work extra hard to achieve my goal of being an accountant and help my family." -Rophine.

Joana was born in Inhambane province, where she lived with her parents. She is a very quiet girl and helpful. After fulfilling her homework and household duties, she plays with her friends. She is orphaned of parents. Her mother died in 2003 when the girl was 2 months old, due to illness, and her father died in 2013, victim of illness as well. He used to be a mechanic. After her father’s death, she moved to live with her aunt that works as a clerk at a butcher. What she earns is not enough to sustain the whole family and pay the girl’s school expenses.

My name is Nicholas Omwenga and I was born on 26th october in the year 2001 in Kibera slums. My parents are from Kisii country. I started schooling in the year 2004 at Fefa Preparatory School then transferred to Kicoshop Primary School where I sat for K.C.P.E. I love swimming, playing football and listening to music. My weakness is trusting so much while my strength is wanting more knowledge. My past and present situation is lack of basic needs e.g food, shelter and clothing. Even when I was a child I had a big imagination thinking that I could become a big time engineer in life. I thank SUN so much for this opportunity.

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.

Jane is the first born child in a family of three. Her father deserted the family leaving the children under the care of their mother who works as a house help. Jane completed grade eight in 2016 and scored high marks. Her mother could not afford to take her to secondary school and instead wanted her to be employed as a house help. Jane defied her mother and with the help of her local pastor went back to school and repeated grade 8. In 2017 she emerged the best girl in her school and was admitted to a national school. Despite the many challenges, Jane is determined to excel in her studies. Her dream to become a surgeon remains her driving force. She hopes to help the less fortunate in the society who cannot afford medical care. Jane believes that hard work pays.

"My ambition in the future is to get good grades throughout my high school career. I want to join a campus and study as a cardiologist. I would like to get a job at one of the biggest hospitals in Kenya and also be traveling from place to place treating people with heart problems. In 10 years to come I would like to find myself flying from place to place treating people. My inspiration is to help the poor and educate the children who can't help themselves in which I can form an organization that helps to sponsor those who are in need. I will also not forget these people who helped me go to school. I will help them in any way I can. My personal goal is to help my parents move to a better place and to buy them some of the things that they will want in the years to come."