Malcom lives with his parents who are peasants and can’t afford to send him to school. Malcom is a very clever boy who wants to become a pilot but may not attain his goal without a better education.

Malcom’s mother became pregnant with him while she was still a student and her parents chased her away from home, disowned her with curses, and told her not to come back. Her parents (Malcom's grandparents) died some years ago. The father, who was a cleaner at a school, lost his job and they started a new life together. They both dig in people’s gardens and they also rent space in a garden where they grow some food for themselves. All this is just enough to provide the family with daily meals, some clothing, and possible medical support, and they cannot afford to give Malcom and his siblings the educations they need.

Malcom has one committed sponsor giving him $45/month and still needs one more in order to complete the Boarding School requirement of $90.