Kushal Chakrabarti

Four years ago, I walked away from Amazon and a million dollars thousands of stock options. I was a twenty-something kid running a billion-dollar team but I dreamed of more. Having grown up in both Calcutta and Los Angeles, I was a child of two worlds. I understood the demands and uncertainty of life at $3 a day but I rejected that was how the world had to be. I started Vittana in 2008 to eradicate youth poverty. Education is the most powerful tool we each have to change our destiny. As you'll see in the following pages, the di erence between literacy and skills is an especially potent transformation. So why did I walk away from a million dollars? For me, education was my second chance at life. I had an opportunity to build something that mattered to have walked away from that would have been morally wrong. Thank you for being part of our family. Thank you for being part of a movement to end youth poverty. Thank you for your time, your thought partnership, your nancial support. Vittana wouldn't be possible without you.

Ana Lizbeth Aburto Salgado

Nicaragua

Growing up fascinated by computers, Ana dreamed of becoming a programmer. She was attending a top school in Nicaragua when her family told her they could no longer support her. Determined to make it, Ana found two jobs as a receptionist and began taking classes at night. However, after a few months, with little sleep and the stress of two jobs, she was sick from exhaustion.

Age: Dream: Loan: Earning Power:

26 Programmer $713, repaid $5 $9/day

Because of a $713 Vittana loan, Ana was able to graduate in April of 2011. She nearly doubled her earning power, going from living on $5 a day to $9 a day. She's already fully repaid her loan. But what makes Ana most proud is achieving her mother's

I am a hard-working, honest, and responsible person who has clear goals that I will achieve.

dream of thinking beyond the home and becoming a working professional.

Now, Ana is expecting her own child. She shares, "This will give me the power to give my children a better education and a good home."

Janice Macalisang
Philippines

Janice always saw herself teaching but her challenges growing up threatened her dreams. Her mother passed away giving birth to her and her father was an alcoholic. When she was moved to her aunts custody she was separated from her brother who was just a small child. At age 15 he committed suicide.

Through her hard life, she learned hard work. But even Age: Dream: Loan: Earning Power: 22 Teacher $203, repaying $0 $10/day A Vittana loan of $203 gave her the ability to nish her education and go from being unemployed to earning after putting herself through high school and entering the work-study program at her university, Janice didnt have enough funds to continue.

I want to teach my students that education is a lifelong treasure that no one can take from you.

$10 a day. Now with her own classroom to inspire, she is doing what she always has dreamed of.

She is working to inspire the next generation of Filipino students and make sure they have the education they need to graduate beyond poverty.

Salamatu Azumi Yakubu

Ghana

Salamatu dreams of becoming a nurse. Growing up in Ghana, she looked to her sister for support and inspiration when money was tight at home. In the face of adversity, her sister was hardworking and always had a positive attitude. When their parents unsteady income threatened to keep Salamatu from completing her education and reaching her goals it was her sister who inspired her to continue.

Age: Dream: Loan: Earning Power:

26 Nurse $808, repaying $0 $9/day

Still, Salamatu needed more than support and encouragement she needed funding. Desperate for a hand up, Salamatu heard about Vittana from a friend. After receiving her $800 Vittana loan, she was able to complete her nursing degree.

I made a promise to work hard to become a better person, it feels so good to see my efforts pay off.

When Salamatu graduates, she expects to earn $9 a day. With her professional training, she feels empowered and independent. Finally able to achieve her dream of serving those in the community, she is eager to get to work.

Francisco Rodriguez
Paraguay

When Francisco was young, he dreamed of becoming a soccer star. Big dreams of ashing lights faded as the dim realities of life at the poverty line set in. Setting aside his athletic ambitions, he went to work at his fathers tire repair shop. Working a job that paid meager wages wasnt the life he imagined. If there was any hope of a better life, he needed to go to school.

Age: Dream: Loan: Earning Power:

30 P.E. Teacher $651, repaid $15 $21/day

In September of 2010, his father closed the shop early and together they traveled to Asuncin, the nations capital. There, Francisco received a $650 Vittana loan and enrolled in a public university. After graduating with a degree in physical education, Francisco now teaches physical education and coaches soccer. He

Through sports I hope to make a difference in the lives of the youth in my community.

believes in the importance of physical tness for youth and hopes to change lives through education.

Today, Francisco isnt a soccer star but in some ways, his dream became a reality. For his proud father, that is all that matters.

Segundo Calero Escorcia

Nicaragua

When Segundos father dropped out of college due to the Nicaraguan Civil War, he promised himself that his children would receive an education. He supported his sons dream but worried that the meager income from his shoe business wouldnt be enough. Segundos father knew that if his son were going to attend college, the money would have to come from somewhere else.

Age: Dream: Loan: Earning Power:

25 Electrical Engineer $896, repaying $13 $23/day

In dire need of assistance, Segundo searched for a loan. He found Vittana and with a $900 loan he was able to go to college. After graduation Segundo earned a job in Nicaraguas growing telecom industry. With expertise in a growing eld, Segundo has been able to

My greatest dreams are to grow my fathers business and see that my work makes a difference in my society.

double his income and help support his family.

Today, Segundo and his siblings are branching out as entrepreneurs and bringing cell towers to his countrys poorest areas. Its a way of using his education to give back to those around him.

Lusiana Pratiwi
Indonesia

After her father died, Lusiana committed herself to building a better life for her family. She dreamed of getting the education she needed to support herself and her mother. Living in the small town of Pekalongan on the Indonesian island of Java and with only one parent to help her, Lusiana was worried that she would never be able to save the money she needed to nish school.

Age: Dream: Loan: Earning Power:

22 Accountant $448, repaying $3 $5/day

Help came in the form of a $448 loan from Vittana. Lusiana used the loan to buy a computer, pay for her nal year of tuition and because of this she was able to graduate on time. With her degree she secured a job in banking and her income nearly doubled.

In my future, I saw myself as a bank employee; a dream I couldn't have achieved without my education.

Today, she is earning a stable salary and paying back her loan on schedule.

Lusianas work ethic and inspiration comes from her mother. Helping support her mother is just one of the ways shes paying back her debt of gratitude.

Leticia Godoy Gimenez

Paraguay

At a young age, Leticia knew that she wanted to become a social worker. The path ahead wasnt easy and her dreams were almost lost when her father sustained an injury and couldnt work. Desperate to nd the funds and continue her studies, Leticia resorted to selling her possessions on the side of the road.

Just as it seemed that Leticias dream was slipping Age: Dream: Loan: Earning Power: 27 Social Worker $1,077, repaid $10 $14/day beyond reach, she applied for a loan from Vittana. Twenty-four lenders came together to fund the $1,077 she needed. After graduating and paying back her loan, Leticia wanted to pass the virtue of education on to her brother. With her increased salary she was able to contribute to his tuition and help pay for her familys

I am thankful for my education, I feel empowered and secure. Now I am a true professional.

household expenses.

Leticia is determined to help her community, she plans to create a foundation for homeless children. The impact of her loan is not only raising her family beyond poverty but is changing her whole community.

Arvin King Cariaga

Philippines

Arvins dream was to study nutrition, but before he found Vittana, he was unemployed, broke and worried. He knew that without a degree, his prospects for employment were bleak. But he wanted to contribute to the familys income and dreamt of giving them the freedom to travel a rare luxury in the Philippines where less than 3% of people own a vehicle.

Age: Dream: Loan: Earning Power:

19 Nutritionist $465, repaid $0 $9/day

Help arrived in the form of ve Vittana lenders who united to fund his $465 loan. Today, he is on his way towards his dreams. His loan enabled him to complete a program in food science at Central Luzon State University. Arvin now earns $9 a day and has already repaid his loan in full.

I'm proud of my family, as well as the education that has been beneficial to them and my community.

My number one priority is to make sure my family benets from my education, he said. I know I can achieve my own dreams as well as the dreams of my family. For a young chef, thats a lot to take on but Arvin is more than ready for the challenge.

Louis Yao Zipki

Ghana

Louis is going to become an accountant and hes doing it for his family. But in Ghana, getting the education he needs isnt easy. His parents have only a primary education and providing for their ve children is a daily struggle. Without anywhere to turn, Louis thought his only option was risking friendships by asking them for money.

Age: Dream: Loan: Earning Power:

29 Accountant $256, repaying $2 $13/day

A Vittana loan not only saved Louis friendships, it got him accepted into Accra Polytechnic where he is set to graduate next year. When he graduates and gets a job, Louis expects to earn $13 per day a huge increase over the $2 a day he makes as a security guard.

This education will allow me to rescue my family; it is an opportunity none of us will never forget.

Looking forward, Louis believes his education is more than books and classes its a way to change his life, his familys life, and transform his community.

With a bright future ahead, Louis feels that theres much to smile about.

Vittana helps youth escape poverty through student microloans. Weve already helped 8,000 youth in 12 countries.