Jose writes, "I am proud of being indigenous, and of having a grandmother and a mother who I love a lot." He writes eloquently that the person that he admires most in his life is his grandmother because she has given him advice throughout his life and to take his studies seriously. He admires her dedication to her family, sense of responsibility, and hard work ethic and hopes to model his own life on her. One of his aspirations is to attend college or university when he is older so that he can have a professional career as a lawyer.

Alex lives with his mother, a Volunteer Community Health Worker for AMREF, who supported him throughout primary school. He is her only child. Alex's father has always been absent from his life. During his final year of primary school, Alex, unable to pay for his fees, books, and food, was often sent home. Sometimes, he says, his and his mother's electricity was cut off.