I grew up in a peaceful and loving family despite the humble foundations. It has not been so comfortable but we are always optimistic of a better tomorrow. I admire our president because he is hardworking. I hope to become a lawyer so that I can serve my country in bringing justice in the society.

I am the second child of a single mother who works as a casual worker, mostly doing household laundry in the neighborhood. She also does other small trades and through this, she can only pay for my older brother's fee. I love playing volleyball and my dream is to represent kenya at an international level. I also dream of being an engineer and try establish a foundation to help needy children in my community.

Carolyne is the third born child in a family of six. Two of her sisters have been sick since childhood they have never been enrolled in school due to their health conditions. Carolyne's father is a casual laborer while the mother stays at home to take care of the sick children. The medical treatment of the children has depleted all the family resources and they have to depend on the mercy of well-wishers. Carolyne has faced many challenges. Many times she slept hungry without food but was always looking forward to being in school as there was a free lunch served (thanks to the school feeding program supported by a charity organization). Carolyne was determined and worked hard and excelled. Carolyne wants to be a doctor in future to treat people whom suffering (just like her two sisters) and improve the health of the people in Kenya.

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.

The family is poor and no source of income hence surviving on one meal per day.

Briana is a teenager at Hillside School in Eldoret, Kenya. She lives with her mother, father, two sisters, and two grandmothers. Briana hopes that she will be able to continue her education into a good career, but she is not sure what yet.

I was born in August 2004 and am the last born in a family of 5. My family has lived in Kibera for more than 20 years. My primary school education hasn't been easy because my parents are casual labourers with inconsistent earnings. Without letting my past affect my future destiny, I did focus and scored a total of 357 out of 500 marks at Three Bells School. With too much hope of going to a good high school and becoming a better person in the society, I've always been focused on my academics, which is funded by Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), an organization that has become a light giver to the helpless and the needy children in the urban slum. Apart from my struggling parents who are really working hard to educate my other siblings, I am always grateful to Shining Hope for Communities and everybody supporting my education for the kind heart they've got. I will always work hard to make them proud. I enjoy attending community workshops and youth forums that seek to empower the community.

Charming and bubbly, Nang'iday aspires to become the first person in her family to complete secondary school and become a role model for other young girls in her village, where early marriage is extremely common. Nang'iday loves studying and playing basketball with her friends after school. While her family is supportive of her education, their income from their small subsistence farm is not enough to pay schools fees for Nang'iday and her six siblings.

Nthenya is the firstborn child in a family of four. Her parents rely on odd jobs to cater for the family needs. ÊDespite many challenges, Nthenya emerged victorious in her exams. She aspires to be a doctor in future to treat the less privileged in the society especially children. She believes that one rises by uplifting others.