Milena was born in Santo Domingo de los Colorados, but the family moved to Quito shortly afterwards. She is the youngest member of the family. She likes studying and has found it difficult not having face-to-face lessons during the pandemic. She has particularly missed the dance classes and presentations wearing traditional Ecuadorian dress, which the school organised.

Yvonne is the second born child in a family of five. She is a very bright student and wants to be a lawyer in future. Her dream of becoming a lawyer has been propelled by the need to help the less privileged in the society especially girls and mothers get justice. Her parents are unemployed and only depend on casual jobs to provide for the family. Yvonne believes that success never comes on a silver platter.

I was born into an extended family where nobody has a job. The only thing they can do is to practice small scale agriculture. I saw the life get more difficult, when I started primary education. Now I am thankful to have joined secondary education. I believe I will be a success. I want to be a doctor. In order to get there, I will use my time to work hard in studying science subjects like biology, chemistry and physics. I hope four years from now, I will have finished my ordinary level and joined advanced level.

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.

Agnes is the second born child in a family of six. Despite facing many challenges, she managed to emerge second top student in her school. Her poor background did not deter her from achieving her goal. She is very determined to succeed in life and become the first surgeon in her village. Her father is a woodcarver while her mother is a house wife. Due to lack of market for wood carvings her father has not been able to provide for the big family. This coupled with frequent droughts has seen the family lack basic needs like food. Agnes is very focused and believes that no man is limited in this world.

Edna is second born child in a family of three. She stays with her grandmother who has taken up the responsibility of caring for her. Her mother is single and jobless. Edna’s elder sister dropped out of school in form two due to lack of school fees. Edna’s journey to success in primary school was not without challenges. She woke up at the crack of dawn each morning and walked about 2 kilometers to school. Sometimes she went to school without any breakfast. Other times she arrived to school late and had to take a punishment but that did not make her to give up. She remained determined and worked hard to attain good grades. Edna emerged the best student by scoring 396 marks out of 500 at her school. She believes that determination knows no barrier.

Edna is second born child in a family of three. She stays with her grandmother who has taken up the responsibility of caring for her. Her mother is single and jobless. Edna’s elder sister dropped out of school in form two due to lack of school fees. Edna’s journey to success in primary school was not without challenges. She woke up at the crack of dawn each morning and walked about 2 kilometers to school. Sometimes she went to school without any breakfast. Other times she arrived to school late and had to take a punishment but that did not make her to give up. She remained determined and worked hard to attain good grades. Edna emerged the best student by scoring 396 marks out of 500 at her school. She believes that determination knows no barrier.

Class Rank: 1/29 My dream is that I want to be an engineer. When I become an engineer, I can build more hospital for the sick people and more schools for the students. The most difficult experience I had is when my mom died. I learned that no one can live in this world forever. And also learned I should not depend the wealth of my parent because is not mine. The moment I feel proud is when my father told me that he will try with his best ability to pay my school fees because I did well in school. I will also help the School Fund build more buildings so it can help more children to get educated.

Bercia lives with her mother. As a little child, she liked to play with the ball and different local games together with her cousins. She loved to listen to the stories her parents told her, especially the one about her grandparents, the life they lived and how Grandpa lost his life in war. Recently her grandmother passed away. She was her best friend and she misses her a lot. Bercia is an intelligent girl and would like to be deputy at the parliament to defend the children of her country. She is asthmatic since she was a little girl. Her father is living in Maputo, the capital, to get treatments, as he has severe tuberculosis. Life is ruff, and the family struggles to get regular meals. She misses him and her siblings, as they are living in different families due poverty they are living in.