Education is one of our strongest tools to end child poverty. Meet Ma Nwe, a former child labourer who is now on the road to success, receiving the education she deserves.
Below we explain Ma Nwe’s experiences as a child labourer and how education has helped her learn the skills to follow her dreams.
From child labourer to dressmaker
Ma Nwe has a big smile as she admires her new sewing machine. It’s a fine-looking Singer with a shiny gold and black body.
For the 20-year-old dressmaking student (pictured above) the machine represents a new beginning. For the first time in a long time the future looks good. Really good.
A new life, and a new home for her mum and sisters, Ma Nwe imagines. And, one day, a tailor shop for herself.
How different things are now, compared to just a few months ago when she was working seven days a week at a manufacturing factory, checking the quality of drinking flasks, day in, day out.
It had been her job for the past seven years, since she was 13 years old.
Leaving school to earn an income
At the age of nine, Ma Nwe dropped out of school to help look after her two younger sisters so her parents could go to work. When their father died she was forced to go to work to make up for the family’s loss of income.
She worked 70-hour weeks, earning an equivalent of about US$60, at the manufacturing factory, and only had one day off a month. All her earnings went to her mother to keep the family afloat.
“If I continued working there, I think nothing would have changed in my life because my earnings were just spent on food,” Ma Nwe says.
It’s the annual ritual of every parent with school-age children: that last-minute dash to the shop to buy a gift for the person responsible for inspiring their child with a love of learning.
But this year, before you reach for those old-faithful gifts of scented candle, bubble bath or fancy choccies, think about giving your favourite teacher a gift that will give them those end-of-term warm and fuzzy feelings.
So instead of wrapping up another ‘World’s Best Teacher’ mug, we’ve got some gift ideas that will help you show your appreciation for your favourite teacher.
1. Caffeine
Teachers value caffeine, and with good reason: who wouldn’t need a cuppa after a day of wrangling a classroom full of whipper-snappers? There’s a few ways you can gift caffeine to your favourite teacher:
- Buy the staffroom a new espresso machine
- Organise for the local café to deliver a coffee-a-day for the first two weeks of the new school year
- Give them a nice reusable coffee cup
- Gift an assortment of flavoured coffee pods or packets for those mid-morning breaks.
They will thank you – a lot.
2. Stationery
While a new set of whiteboard markers or pencils might not be on the top of everyone’s Santa wish list, teachers actually love this stuff. Mainly because little fingers borrow what belongs to the teacher throughout the school year. They’re also not always good at returning them (not that their teacher minds too much).
Mainly because little fingers borrow what belongs to the teacher throughout the school year. They’re also not always good at returning them (not that their teacher minds too much).
Any of these stationary supplies will send your kid’s teacher off on their festive break with a real spring in their step:
- Pens
- Notebooks
- Highlighters
- Whiteboard markers
- Chalk
- Paperclips
Find a nice themed stationary set or even a designer stapler (yes, that’s a thing) if you want to give your teacher a little extra.
3. A treat voucher
The festive season is a time for teachers to kick up their heels and take some time out for themselves. The gift of a cinema, restaurant or a shopping centre voucher gives them the chance to relax and unwind after a long year. After 12 months of school canteen lunches, your teacher deserves some me-time – just make sure the voucher is for use at a location that’s not normally frequented by their students.
4. Pooled gifts
Let’s face it – it’s always better to get quality over quantity. Organise the other parents and buy a single, amazing gift for your teacher. You could also add a bottle of bubbly. It might even be worth having a quiet word with the teacher to find out what they really, really want. It’s a win-win for everyone: parents don’t need to spend as much, and your class teacher will have a gift shows them how much their class appreciates them.
5. Donate charity gifts on behalf of your teacher
Teachers are passionate about education. Of course they love teaching your child, but what motivates them every day is the positive impact they have on the lives of countless children.
Donating an educational charity gift from our Gifts for Good catalogue will give them the joy of knowing their gift has helped children around the world. You might wish to donate:
When you donate a gift through ChildFund’s Gifts for Good program you also get a beautiful gift card that tells the recipient how their gift is making a difference. Add a personalised message to tell your teacher how much you appreciate their work, and you’ve got a gift that will be sure to knock their socks off (the socks bought for them by an unthinking parent).
