Manuel tiene once años y estudia quinto grado en el colegio. Su hermanita, Génesis Iveth, estudia tercero. Génesis y Manuel nacieron en Flórida, donde aún tienen familia.
La materia favorita de Manuel es matemáticas, y cuando sea grande, quiere ser abogado. Le gusta estudiar y hacerle bromas a su hermana. Su comida favorita es frijoles con crema y panes. El sueño de Manuel es un día sacarle papeles a su mamá, para que vayan todos a vivir en Estados Unidos.
Génesis y Manuel viven con su mamá, Paty. Su papá vive en el departamente de La Unión y jala caña. Paty se separó del esposo porque era infiel y abusivo con ella. Los niños no vean al papá con mucha frecuencia, aunque él sí les ayuda un poquito con los gastos del colegio. Paty acaba de empezar a trabjar en el colegio, haciendo comida para unos 30 alumnos que se quedan a almorzar. Aunque no gana mucho, sabe que es importante una buena educación para el futuro de sus hijos, y por eso los ha matriculado en el colegio.

Manuel is eleven years old and in fifth grade. His younger sister, Génesis Iveth, is in third grade here. Génesis and Manuel were actually born in Florida, where they still have family.
Manuel’s favorite subject is math and when he grows up he wants to be a lawyer. Manuel likes studying and also playing jokes on Génesis. His favorite food is beans with cream and rolls. Manuel’s dream is to one day help his mom to get papers to move to the US.
Genesis and Manuel live with their mom, Paty. Their father lives in the department of La Unión and is a sugar-cane hauler. Paty separated from the children’s father because he became abusive and was also unfaithful to her. The children don’t see their father often, although he does help a little with their school expenses. Paty has just started to work at school, cooking lunch for about 30 students who come from far away and cannot go home to eat. Although her salary isn’t much, she knows how important a good education is to her children’s future and for this reason has enrolled them at PNARDS.