Children's stories

Letnas is 15 years old and one of seven children. He lost both his parents and infant sibling when he was just eight years old, leaving him and his brothers and sisters orphaned. In January 2025, Letnas came to our Dodoma Boystown to start secondary school.

Oloikishaan is 16 years old and comes from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in northern Tanzania. Coming from a poor family, Oloikishaan struggled to attend school, travelling 4 hours a day just to reach his nearest school. He finally completed primary school in 2024 and arrived at Dodoma Boystown in January 2025.

Miriam is 12 years old from Lempira in Honduras. Raised by her grandmother their life was hard.  Extreme weather like flooding and drought, affected their home and livelihood meaning they rarely had enough to eat and no prospect of earning enough to make a better future. The Sisters met Miriam late last year and she was overjoyed to join the school in Tegucigalpa in January 2025.

Yohana is 17 years old, from Dodoma, Tanzania. After he finished his primary education he never expected to go back to school as his mother couldn’t afford uniform or basic school supplies and without these he was excluded from school, unable to continue his education. Meeting the Sisters of Mary last year was the precious chance of a secondary education and a new start not just for him but for his whole family.

Mary Joy came to the Sisters of Mary school in Biga, Philippines in July 2024. From a broken home, deserted by her father and mother and left in the care of her grandmother, she is the eldest of four children. Her early life was marked by poverty and deprivation with little hope of a place at school or a better future.

Gabino is from the state of Guerrero,  Mexico, he is 13 years old. His life was extremely difficult until we were able to welcome him into our Sisters of Mary school in Guadalajara. Now with us, he can pursue his love of agriculture and learn the skills that will help him earn a living when he leaves school.

Eduardo comes from a family of 7 children. His father was killed when he was 4 years old and his mother struggled to feed the family.

Alirah is from the region of Rizal in the Philippines. She has two brothers and her father works as a soya vendor. He earns very little and struggles to support his family. Alirah helps out by spending her spare time helping her aunt and cousins to sell vegetables and clean out their pigs. The family have no access to water and only a basic shelter. Their future looked very bleak until she met the Sisters of Mary last year. 

Baracka lives with his mother and sister. His father left them and his mother has been severely affected by polio. She finds it challenging to raise enough money to feed her two children. Work is infrequent and so there is rarely enough to support them all.

Yara is just eight years old and is the 6th child in a family of seven children. Her parents are  separated and she lives with her mother who struggles to support the family as a cleaner and the children lead a very deprived life.

Raphaely lived in a small village in Maranhão, Brazil. Her home life was very difficult and she was abandoned at birth by her mother. Left in the care of her elderly grandmother who was also raising  two more grandchildren, the family were destitute and Raphaely would regularly miss school to help earn a living on their little farm.

Petro’s family were so poor that they had to borrow money for his malaria treatment. Now he is healthy and safe at school thanks to our supporters.

Jade comes from Cavite, the Philippines. Her mother gave her away at 8 months old due to her  struggle to cope with Jade’s asthma. Jade’s adopted family fell on hard times when her adoptive father was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away.

Joriz comes from a poor family in the Philippines. His parents are separated and his mother works by sorting rubbish to scrape together a meagre living for Joriz and his 4 younger siblings.

Sandy and Johselin are twins from Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. Their family of six struggle to have enough food and getting secondary education for girls in their community is a challenge.

Happiness was one of the first young girls to join the Sisters of Mary school in Kisarawe and she has thrived in her time at the school.

Darely is one of the newest students at our Sisters of Mary girlstown in Tegucigalpa. Her early life has been tormented by poverty. Thanks to our supporters she is now in the care of the Sisters and her life will be transformed.

Esteffanny comes from Para in rural Brazil, her father and fifteen year old brother work on a local plantation to try to feed the family while Esteffanny helped care for her siblings. Esteffanny loves to study and “I feel that I am in heaven” now she’s at the Sister of Mary School in Brasilia.

Armando had a very impoverished early life and joined our boys’ school in Guadalajara, Mexico in August 2023 but then in December 2023 his life was devastated by the tragic loss of both his parents, younger sister and cousin to extreme violence.

Emanuella comes from northern Brazil and is the second of three children, sharing the same mother but different fathers. Emanuella’s father died when she was very young. Unable to find work, her mother has been forced to work away from home, in London, and the care of Emanuella fell to her grandparents.

Aneck has three siblings and they make a little living by farming but the land is poor and the crops have failed. The family are hungry and desperate. The Sisters met Aneck in June and he is one of the first boys at our school in Dodoma.

Rodrigo’s parents were fatally attacked in the family home in Guerrero, Mexico when he was just six years old. With his parents gone the young family was split up and he was left in the care of distant relatives. Rodrigo was desperate for a better life and has now found one at the Sisters of Mary school in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Bedola is 14 years old.  She is one of seven children from a farming family living in a remote village in Tanzania. Despite their hard work on the farm there is little money on which this family can rely for survival. With no money for books or uniform, Bedola had no hope of a better future until she met the Sisters of Mary last year and we were able to fund a place for her at our school in Kisarawe near Dar es Salaam.

Anthoni is one of the first boys to come to Dodoma Boys’ School. He is the fourth of eight children and has had a hard young life. Now safe in our new school in Dodoma, with three good meals a day and his own bed, Anthoni has the chance to thrive and access the vital education he needs for a better future.

Marycelina comes from a poor family in Kilimanjaro region. Her mother struggles to support the family alone and her home life has been difficult. Sometimes the family would only eat once a day. Now at Kisarawe Girlstown, Marycelina is able to dream of a life beyond poverty, where she can make an impact on the lives of others.

Kethelyn and Isabella are the first children to benefit from the Sisters of Mary day care, elementary school, and secondary school education in Brazil and they owe their opportunity to our generous supporters.

Maria’s father abandoned her family before she was born, her hard working mother cares for and provides for them. It is a difficult life and they live in extreme poverty. Maria had little hope for her future until she met the Sisters of Mary late last year.

Kenneth comes from Yoro, Honduras. His parents are separated and he lives with his grandmother.

Yordin comes from a farming family with seven children in La Paz, Honduras.

José’s father died when he was young and his mother abandoned him with relatives a few years later. He is now happy and safe at our Amarateca school.

Ana Carolina grew up in danger and poverty in Brazil. She is now safe and happy at our school in Brasilia where she is able to thrive.

Mark used to go to school without food. Now he is safe and happy at school with three meals a day.

Gena comes from a poor farming family in the Philippines. Her father is disabled but still works hard, farming palay (unhusked rice) to provide food for the family of six.

Jescelle was born into extreme poverty in Albay, The Philippines. As one of fourteen children, her loving parents struggled to earn enough money to put food on their plates. At a very young age Jescelle had to step up and contribute towards the household.

Maria comes from a rural village in the mountains of  Mexico. Maria had to care for a younger sibling at home and missed out on primary education during the COIVD-19 pandemic. Her single parent family struggled to put food on the table. In 2021, Maria joined the Sisters of Mary in Chalco Girlstown, Mexico. She is happy and fulfilled at school. She dreams of becoming a teacher one day.

Madalena is 14 and from the poorest barrio in Santana do Araguaia – Pará, Brazil. she came to the Sisters of Mary in Brasilia in early 2023.

Alice comes from the state of Maranhão in Brazil. Alice comes from a poor family, and has struggled to access primary education. After meeting the Sisters in October 2022, Alice found a new home and a hope for a better future at Brasilia Girlstown in January 2023.

Sergio is from Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. He is the youngest of two brothers from a very poor family working the fields to support themselves. Life was extremely harsh for Sergio who was desperate to study and then got even worse when his father died, leaving them destitute.

Frandi had a difficult start to life, he lost his mother when he was five years old and his father struggles to support the family alone. Frandi dreams of a better life and now, at the Sisters of Mary school, he has access to a better future.

Waren grew up in extreme poverty in a large, single parent family. Waren never thought he could finish secondary school and now, after coming to Adlas Boystown, he dreams of becoming an engineer. His education is making his dreams come true.

Rendel is one of the newest students at our school in Adlas, the Philippines. Deserted by his father whilst very young, the family lived in desperate poverty. He joined us in August. His mother cried with joy when we were able to offer him a place in our care.

Mercedes comes from a poor family near Dar es Salaam. After her father’s death, her mother remarried but her step father is violent and abused the family. Mercedes dreams of becoming a doctor to help people like her mother.

Justine is the second child of three children. His parents separated when he was just two years old. He and his siblings were left with their grandparents who tried their very best to raise them and help them to live a normal life but it was a very difficult existence.

Suzana comes from a poor family of six children. Her parents work hard but the family struggles to get by. Suzana joined  Kisarawe Girls School in 2021 and now has high ambitions for her future life.

Oscar is the fourth of 10 children from a poor family in Opatoro, Honduras.

My name is Edwin and I am 12 years old. I have a twin called Cleofe and two other younger brothers. My parents are simple farmers who till the soil for us in order to survive.

Anastazia’s family is large and her parents struggle to meet their needs. Anastazia’s hope is that one day she can provide electricity to people in her community who cannot afford it.

Playing with friends, eating nutritious food, and being loved by my parents. None of these things were experienced by me.

Angel came to the Sisters of Mary School in Biga, Cebu from a poor family of barbeque vendors. Angel is now at school in her first year of secondary school and is enjoying her life with her classmates.

Frenchzai comes from a poor family and after her parent separated, was looked after by her grandparents. After her grandfather died, life was a real struggle for their family.

The eldest of three children and from a very poor family. Cintia had a violent upbringing which culminated in her father’s desertion of her family leaving her mother to farm in order to support them all.

Lara comes from a poor family in Brazil and her life changed when she entered the Sisters of Mary school in Brasilia

Lauanda comes from a very poor family in rural Brazil. Her parents are separated and she dreams of becoming an accountant to help her family.

Lineth came to Villa de las Niñas in 2021 from a very poor, broken family where she experienced abuse. When she came to Villa de las Niñas, Lineth found a supportive family she can share her life with.

When Henry was 4 years old his mother and father were shot and killed. Henry and he and his sister went to live with their uncle and his other 9 children. It was a difficult existence but Henry was determined not to give up his dream of a better life.

Marvin’s parents separated when he was 6 and he lived with his 2 sisters, father, and new stepmother. It was a very poor life. With poor access to education Marvin worked on farms or as a fisherman. In 2017 Marvin joined the Sisters of Mary school in Cebu and his life changed.

Roel is the 9th of 11 children. His father died in 2010 when Roel was just 6 years old. Roel had to grow up quickly and help care for his siblings. He says he felt a lot of responsibility almost like a father. He worked hard to support them all.

Lesly is 12 years old and comes from the village of Nueva Candelaria in Santa Rosa. Lesly’s family struggles to access fresh water regularly, placing additional pressure on her family.

Baracka lives with his mother and sister. His father left them and his mother has been severely affected by polio. She finds it challenging to raise enough money to feed her two children. Work is infrequent and so there is rarely enough to support them all.

Salome came to Kisarawe Girls School in 2022. She lives with her grandparents and had to sell buns to buy school supplies as her family is very poor. They frequently experienced hunger but when Salome came to the school, she discovered life without a lack of food.

Helena is the third of six children based in Tabora, Tanzania. With no access to healthcare, her mother died suddenly and her alcoholic father was left in charge of the children.

When her mother got pregnant with Vanessa, she was taking drugs and drinking alcohol. Vanessa was born premature and had to recuperate in an incubator. After four days, she was abandoned in the hospital.

Justa is one of 8 children and lives in severe poverty with her parents in rural Tanzania. Thanks to your support and the care of the Sisters of Mary she is now at school in Kisarawe and looks forward to a brighter future.

Miguel is four years old and lives in Sao Paulo with his father. He recently lost his mother and was in a desperate situation as his father couldn’t work because there was no one to care for young Miguel, until, with the support of our donors, the Sisters were able to welcome him into their care at the Sao Paulo Day-Care.

Agnes comes from a poor farming family in in the Mwanga District of Tanzania. She started school at Kisarawe Girls School in January 2022 and is thriving in her new environment.

Rejane is one of five children and after her parents separated, her mother struggled to support them.  Rejane found new hope when she met the Sisters of Mary and was offered the chance to come to Brasilia Girlstown.

Mariamu is from a very poor farming family. Her father struggles with alcoholism and the family relies on her mother to provide, but she is sick with HIV. When Miriamu arrived at Kisarawe, she experienced stability and security for the first time in her life.