Difficulties and hardships have caused Joren to strive for excellence so he can lift his family out of poverty. He is eager to study and learn, and is a good leader in group activities. Joren is also diligent and kind to others. He works in rice fields during planting and harvesting seasons. Joren is an honor student with a 93% grade point average.

Goals: Joren wants to become a mechanical engineer.

Favorites: In school, he likes math and science. He also likes basketball, cooking and singing.

Family: Joren lives with his grandmother, mother and three siblings.

Income: The family of six lives on about $4 a day.

Housing: Their home has walls of plywood. The roof is made of corrugated steel sheets. The floor is concrete. The windows are glass.