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The top 10 Heroes: In their own words

Pushpa Basnet was shocked to learn that children in Nepal were <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/15/world/cnnheroes-basnet-nepal-prisons/index.html'>living in prisons with their parents</a>. In 2005, she started a children's center that has provided housing, education and medical care to more than 140 children of incarcerated parents. "I always had a dream to build our own home for these children, and I want to rescue more children who are still in prisons," Basnet said. <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/26/world/cnnheroes-prison-children/index.html' target='_blank'>See more photos of Pushpa Basnet</a>, who was voted <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/02/world/cnnheroes-show/index.html'>CNN Hero of the Year</a> for 2012.

Pushpa Basnet was shocked to learn that children in Nepal were living in prisons with their parents. In 2005, she started a children's center that has provided housing, education and medical care to more than 140 children of incarcerated parents. "I always had a dream to build our own home for these children, and I want to rescue more children who are still in prisons," Basnet said. See more photos of Pushpa Basnet, who was voted CNN Hero of the Year for 2012.