Romnick is 14 years old and is the oldest in his family, yet is still in the first grade due to poor attendance. Romnick many times needs to skip school to help work in the small family garden so they have food. He is also expected to help with the other choirs so the family can survive. The family does not have enough money for a school uniform that is required of all students. While one can attend school without a uniform, not having one draws attention from the other students.

Romnick has one sister, but also lives with four other first cousins. The four cousins’ parents have abandoned them. In total there are four adults and six children living in a small one room house called a kubo. A kubo is a small house built with coconut tree bark and leaves. This small house is where ten people live.

His dad works odd jobs at very low pay, usually about one dollar a day, which is not enough to feed and care for the family. His mother helps the grandmother with the younger children and the grandfather also does odd jobs around town for very low pay. This is his grandmother’s house that they are living in, and he has been living there all his life.

Romnick and the other children have never been to a doctor or dentist. They have also never had their eyes checked for vision. They do not have the basic necessities of life. If we can help Romnick and get him up to speed on his education and to graduate from high school, he will be able to move out of poverty and better able to help his family. So by helping Romnick, we will help the entire family.