Da Chushi is a 15-year-old Tibetan girl. Her parents are farmers. Her father Chire Kedzu is 60; her mother Dzoma, 48, suffers from a deformity in both hands. They live in Bengo Hago Village. In a typical year the family earns $32. Da Chushi says, "From very young, I have wanted to be a teacher. I will do my best to learn well in school so I can reach my goal."

 

Droma Lhamo is 14 years old, the youngest child of farmer parents Zhang Jingliang, 68, and Dzashi Dzima, 50. The family supports her older brother, who is a Buddhist monk. The three live at Niba Village. Their average annual income is $50. She says, "I have a wish to become a teacher. A teacher is like candle that sacrifices itself to bring light to others; I want to emulate this fine spirit. In order to reach my goal, I need some help because my family is very poor."

 

Da Dzima, 14, is the daughter of farmers Shamba, 42, and Jiji Lhamo, 38. She has a younger sister who is in primary school and a 6-year-old brother. The family lives in Zaxi Village in a shabby house. The average income of her family for a year is $50. She says, "I hope I can become a doctor when I grow up, In remote areas the medical situation is very bad, so I want to be a doctor to reduce the pain of the people living there."

 

Dzoma Chudzam, 14, is the daughter of farmers. She has a 25-year-old brother who works as a street vendor, and an 18-year-old brother who is in school. The family lives in Zaxi Village and their annual income is about $50. She says, "I am in a vigorous period of my life; I will study with all my might so as to reach my goal of being an excellent teacher."

 

Tseren Chudzam is a 13 year old Tibetan girl from the village of Seba in Tiran township. She has two younger sisters, both now in primary school, and a younger brother who is two years old. The average income of the family for a year is $56. The girl says, "I am the daughter of farmers. Ever since I was very young, I have wanted to be a teacher. In order to reach this goal, I must study hard."