Fourteen-year-old Roxanne has had a tough life growing up in the coastal village of Barangay in the Philippines. When she was 11, her family's house was washed away in a typhoon, and her father and mother are often hard-pressed to support the family on his meagre income as a fisherman and her small paycheque as a housekeeper.

So it was a relief to everyone when a Canadian family sponsored Roxanne, providing her with opportunities she wouldn't otherwise have had. As president of the World Vision Psalms Project Children's Association, Roxanne would like to see such issues as malnutrition and child abuse addressed. She has been able to represent her association at both regional and national Filipino children's congresses.

Roxanne is a top student, with a mark of 86 in her favourite subject - English. And although she tends to be shy, Roxanne sings in the school choir at various community events.

With the support of her World Vision sponsors, and one member of the Psalms Project in particular acting as a role model, Roxanne has the dream of becoming a social worker and giving back to her community. She also longs to build her family a sturdy house that will withstand the next typhoon.