Carmen was born in Loja in the south of Ecuador, the fifth of six children. Her parents work on the land but earn very little money, and for this reason none of Carmen's brothers or sisters completed more than primary education. Carmen though was determined to make her own way in life, made great efforts and managed to complete high school. Her dream was to get a university qualification and to be able to earn a living as an accountant. She came to Quito ten years ago to continue studying and to support herself by working, and finally succeeded in getting a place to study at the Universidad Central, a state-run university in Quito, where the fees are relatively low compared with other universities. Carmen managed to save enough to pay for the first year, but had to abandon her studies last year as she could not afford the fees. The Condor Trust is now supporting her financially, so she can continue her studies and so that all her efforts to get an education are not wasted. In her spare time, Carmen loves dancing.