Vanessa is a bright second-grade student who lives with her mother and younger sister. Her father tragically passed away last year, leaving the family without their main provider. Her mother has struggled to support them, working irregular casual jobs and even starting a small hawking business which collapsed due to lack of capital and rising costs. Today, she remains unemployed, and the family often depends on relatives and her great-grandmother for food. She sometimes going to bed hungry.

The house her father had begun constructing was left unfinished, forcing Vanessa, her mother, and sister to squeeze into a single small room where they all share one bed. Because of these hardships, Vanessa is often in and out of school, due to not being able to pay school fees.

Even with these struggles, Vanessa remains determined, hopeful, and focused on her education. She continues to rank among the top 10 learners in her class and dreams of completing school to build a better life for herself and her family.