Mutheu is the second born in a family of three. Her father abandoned the family and her mother has remained to be the sole breadwinner. She does casual jobs to cater for her family basic needs. During her primary schooling, Mutheu was often sent home to collect school levies. Despite the challenges she faced, she emerged to be the top student in her school. Managing time well and discipline was her secret to success. Mutheu�s dream is to become journalist. She believes that nothing good goes unrewarded. She likes reading storybooks.

Yanela is an only child and is sad that she has no father and no brothers or sisters. She is a determined student and has done well at school. In her spare time, she listens to music and loves to swim. When she is older, she would like to become a swimming teacher.

Sebastian was born in Loja in the south of Ecuador and lived for five years with his grandparents, while his parents went to other cities in search of work. For the last six months he's been living in Quito with his parents and his sister: the family has been re-united.

Dokes' parents separated, and she lives with her grandparents who are poor and unable to pay school fees

Genesis was the best student in her class this last year, and she enjoys school very much. She is the third of four children, and lives with her brothers, sister and mother, after her parents separated last year. She does not yet know what she would like to do when she finishes school. At the moment, she enjoys music and has begun to learn to play the cello at school.

Parents separated, father abandoned children to the mother. They have nobody to turn to.

Precious comes from a poor family with both parents doing manual labour. They are unable to pay her high school fees as well provide food for her and her younger sister.

An experience which I remember from early in my life was when I started to learn English. My most difficult experience was in standard five when our family did not have money, and we decided to move around the street and sell bananas in order to get some money. From that difficulty, I learnt to study hard in order to have a good standard of life. The moment when I felt especially proud of myself was when my last young brother was born. The happiest thing in my life is when I joined a school team. I want to be a large-scale farmer. I will get there by studying hard and performing well in agriculture subjects. After I reach my dream, I need to help my family and community by cooperating in different activities. I will provide employment to people and I will help WEF by helping the school. I would like to change my community by helping disabled people.

Ubah is from Gabiley and is very energetic. She is a student proctor and has shown great leadership in her role.