My family don’t have money so I can’t get educated. I want to get educated so I’m on the streets trying to get money to go to school. My family can’t provide anything - no education, no bike for school.
I look for scrap metal to get money to get food. For one kilo I get 500 leones. If I don’t look for metal I don’t eat.
I went to school, now I go on and off. I’m ready and willing to go to school. I want to be in the army - to be a high ranking soldier so that I don’t have to fight on the frontline. So I need to go to school. My favourite subject is maths, because it’s simple.
To go to school I need a uniform, pens, socks, pens, a bag - and a bicycle.
I love football and dance. Madrid is my favourite team and Ronaldinho is my favourite player. We used to have a dance club on the street corner, where I learnt lots of my moves.
I sleep under the table in the marketplace. The streets are dangerous. Sometimes there are stabbings, even stabbings to death. There’s pickpocketing, grabbing of property, beatings and group bullying.
Life on the streets is bad but once you’re there you get used to it and don't realise how bad it is.
I would like to get off the streets, I think I will get off the streets if I get educated and then I can go back home. T king, 13