The experience that I remember from early in my life is passing my standard four examination and entering standard five. It made me happy because it is the way to my dream. The most difficult experience in my life has been my eye problems since I was in standard seven. I had to tolerate the situation and I learnt that I cannot give up. I was proud of myself when I went to Arusha town to visit a museum. It was an old cultural building which is specially used to keep our history. The most memorable and the happiest moment in my life was when I celebrated my graduation from standard seven. My dream to be a doctor, so I must study hard and perform well in science subjects. After reaching my dream, I will provide education to society on how to control diseases and I will help elderly people. If I had the power, I would improve medical centers so that people can get services in our society.

It was hard sometimes when I was sent back home, lacking funds for the school requirement. I missed some classes and I lost concentration on my studies. Although these are challenges, I make all my efforts to pass. The happiest moments in my life are when I am progressing well and pass all my examinations. My success in my examination inspires my parents love me. Four years from now I hope to be at form five proceeding with my higher education.

"I have faced many challenges such as a lack of textbooks. I had a torn uniform that I could not mend for a very long time. I was brought up in Kibera until class four when my life started to become hard. That's when I was taken to a rural area where I was staying with my grandmother who used to help my mother in paying school fees when she was unable. In fact I want to be a teacher so that I can be able to educate young children from the slums."

Florindo was born in Sofala province. He is very humble and loves to play with children of his age, especially playing football in the afternoon when returning from school. He is orphaned of parents. In 2008, his father passed away due to illness. He went to live with his mother in company of his older sister, and his newborn sister. In December 2011, his mother also died victim of illness; leaving the boy and two sisters alone. Florindo, along with his older sister, was adopted by the pastor of the church his mother used to attend, while his younger sister was only 2 years old and was adopted by another family that worships at the same church. As the pastor is of old age, he would like to finish his studies as quick as possible and learn a trade; his dream is to reunite his sisters together with him to take care of them. "

Anne is an orphan girl in a family of four children. Her father passed on the year she was born and her mother passed on her 5th birthday. All her three elder sisters did not get a good education and all are married now. Without the care of a parent , Anne went through primary school with a lot of struggles but managed to complete in 2010. In 2011 she joined secondary school but unfortunately dropped in 2013 due to lack of school fees. Although she has been out of school for a couple of years now, her determination to complete secondary education remains solid. Anne has a strong passion to excel and believes that a good education is the basis of building a successful life. She hopes to complete secondary school and make a career in accounting.

Mutisya is the third born child in a family of four children. His parents are divorced. Mutisya's mother takes care of his siblings single handedly since the father remarried and stopped taking care of the family. In 2012 Mutisya was adopted by their church pastor who took care of him as he went through primary school in Mwaasua Primary School. Mutisya passed well his primary exam with 339 marks and has been admitted at Masii Boys secondary school. His mother works as a casual cleaner in Wamunyu and lives in a rented house, as they have no home of their own. The firstborn girl in the family completed form four but never got any meaningful job. She works as a house help to supplement her mother little income to support the family. The second born in the family is a girl who is a first year student at Maseno University while Kelvin their last-born is in class six at Wamunyu Primary School. With the big family burden on her shoulders, Mutisya's mother is unable to support her son to gain secondary education. Mutisya is a very bright and determined student and for him gaining a strong education is his only hope for a good future.

Mwongeli ("Janet") is the fifth born child in a family of six children. Her father passed on in 2003 leaving the burden of educating and supporting the children to their mother who is a peasant farmer. Although four of her elder siblings managed to go through secondary education through support of well-wishers, there is still a huge outstanding fees balance in the secondary school where they attended. Consequently, they never got their secondary school certificates meaning they could not proceed with further education nor get any formal employment. They do casual work for a living to support their mother in bringing up the family. Despite her humble background Mwongeli is a very confident and hardworking girl who passed well her primary education at Miini Primary School and was top in her school with 369 marks. She has been admitted to join form one at Kathiiani Girls secondary school, which is a national school. All through her primary education, she has been top in class and has won many academic prizes. She loves school because she says she strongly believes that education is an important tool to empower her to be successful in life. She wants to study hard to realize her dream and become a pilot one-day. At her age, she understands the consequences of lack of education and so one of her passions is to be successful in life so she could help her family as well as other children in her community to gain good education.

Namnyack is a 17-year-old student at Orkeeswa Secondary School. She lives in Lordingo Village with her mother and brother, but has two brothers and one sister in total. When her father passed away Namnyack started helping her mother run the family's farm where they grow maize and beans. Namnyack plays on the school football team and is an avid reader. After school she hopes to become a secondary school teacher.

My parents separated a long time ago and I have not seen either of them for two years now. I live with my grandparents and with my brother and sister. My grandfather owns one donkey and one cow, so we do not have very much money. My grandfather is also sick so my grandmother has a temporary job and this is where we get all of our money. Sometimes we have a hard time getting by on just that money. I finished primary school and I knew that I liked mathematics and history the best. I also like playing sports like netball.