Nelson is the last born child in a family of 10 children; two brothers and 7 sisters. His parents are peasant farmers with no means of supporting a big family and most important providing education. All his elder siblings were not able to get a good education. In 2015 Nelson sat for his KCPE exam and scored 361 marks and was the second top student at his school. Nelson wants to follow a different path from his elder siblings and make a career in his life. He believes that education is the key to success and he hopes to gain secondary education and study hard to become a mechanical engineer in the future.

Lucia is the second born child in a family of four. She did her certificate of primary education in 2014 and was admitted to secondary school in 2015. For the greater part of 2016, Lucia has been out of school due to lack of school fees. For the second term, Lucia was completely out of school. Her father has deserted the family leaving the burden of children support to their ailing mother who does casual jobs to cater for the family’s basic needs. The failing health of Lucia’s mother has rendered her unable to work hard as before. The burden of providing the basic necessities for the family has taken a toll on Lucia’s mothers’ meager resources making it hard to pay for her daughter’s school fees. Lucia’s dream for a good education risks being cut short due to lack of school fees. Despite the olds, Lucia is a self-disciplined and determined student who is optimistic to study and achieve her dream to become a lawyer and help educate her young siblings as well as other children in need.

I am living with my mother and my 2 brothers. My father works in a quarry in Pambara and he comes home sometimes on weekends or twice a month. My 2 sisters are married and live out of home. Our home has one room where my parents sleep and my brothers and I are sleeping outside in a hut on a mat and we have one old blanket to cover. I spent my childhood in Mangarela where I started school. After the 1st grade, I went to Maputo with my family for 3 years. Once back to Vilankulo, I started grade 1 again. During my free time, I go fishing to help the family and on Sundays, we go to church. My mother goes to the field 4 times a week. I like to play Neca and Football. I am grateful to get a sponsorship, because that will help us a lot.