I believe and stand that education is STILL the best tool for one’s advancement. Not many of us may be aware but not everyone who wants to go to school and finish a degree gets a chance to do so. One of the main obstacles is poverty.
I want to share a story about a girl who desperately wanted to become a teacher when she grows up. She came from a household with seven other siblings, a homemaker mom and a farmer dad. Soon after finishing 6th grade, she together with her other sisters, were asked to abandon school to help run the farm for there was not enough money to send all the kids to school. She became a “live” scarecrow to help save their crops. Little did she know that the more she chased the birds away, she also chased away her dreams. She never got the chance to go back to school and more, to finish it. She may not have earned the degree to become a full-pledge teacher but she taught herself to become street-smart and survive. To me she is the best and greatest teacher I had, this girl is my Mom.
My Mom’s story is not different from the story of other girl’s around the globe especially those that came from developing countries where everything else is limited. My daughter just started Kindergarten and being here in the United States, she is so blessed to get a good kickstart on her education free of charge as compared to other girls and kids her age.
Meet Moni
Moni is an 11 year old girl from Bangladesh, a fourth grader who has excelled in school for the several years. Every morning she wakes up early to prepare for school and after school Moni returns home to help her mother with the evening chores, including fetching water for cooking and drinking. When she finishes her chores, she studies until 9 p.m., then eats dinner and goes to bed.
Moni likes school because her teachers take care of her and inspire her to study. She wants to be successful in life, and in order to do so, she says she will study accordingly. She is confident that if she does not encounter any financial crisis, she will reach her goal. She says education inspires her to take care of her family.
I just want to look after my parents since I have been watching them suffer since my early years of school. If I get a job, I will take care of them.
Hope in CARE
Women and girls make up the majority of the 1.4 billion people living in extreme poverty. We can help break the barriers of poverty and education around the world with CARE.
CARE is a global humanitarian organization that fights poverty by empowering girls and women-works around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. CARE is committed to improve the health and well-being of women and girls to improve the health and well-being of women and girls-uncovering and transforming the political, social and economic relationships at the heart of poverty
At CARE, we are committed to ending poverty — by attacking its root causes, not only its consequences.
CARE asked students in developing countries to tell the world what inspires and challenges them. In #SimplySaid they spoke about their struggles and sacrifices, hopes and dreams. They told stories about the way they are changing their lives and also the lives of family members, neighbors and future generations.
CARE is sending messages of hope to students in developing countries as they pursue their dreams of an education.
Join me and CARE by sending letters of hope to inspire students to follow their dreams!
Sign a letter of encouragement and write your own message of support to students in developing countries. Together we can make a difference!