Erika has a very strong desire to finish her studies. Because of lack of income, she gets up early and walks to school. To pay for school projects, she does laundry work on Saturdays. She is a responsible person and an effective leader. She is consistently #2 in her class. Erika is a columnist for a school paper. She won second place in Interpretative Dancing and third place in Fitness competitions.

Goals: She wants finish her studies, have a stable job, help her family and become an accountant or business woman.
 
Favorites: In school, Erika likes English, Filipino and intramural sports. She also enjoys reading, singing and cleaning.
 
Family: She lives with her mother, stepfather and six sisters.
 
Income: Her stepfather works as a seasonal laborer and an older sister works as a maid. However, the family of 9 lives on only about $3 a day.
 
Housing: Their home has walls of coco lumber. The roof is made of corrugated steel sheets. The floor is concrete.