3 inspiring teachers who go the extra mile, literally

All children have the right to go to school and learn. Whether in the classroom or at home, meet three inspiring teachers who are going to great lengths to educate every child – no matter where they are.
 

Going the distance  

As the sun rises in Prey Veng, Cambodia, Seng arrives at the community preschool where she has worked for the past 15 years, with a cart full of children. 

Like many of her pupils, the teacher lives three kilometres away, a great distance for little legs. A few years ago, Seng had realised many parents were not able to drive their children to preschool. So, she began transporting them herself, in a borrowed cart attached to her motorbike.  

Seng picks up her students from their homes early in the morning and brings them back when class ends. 

“I expected that the number of children would decrease after some of them would be off to primary school, but it kept increasing.”   
 

Out of the 30 children in the class, four have disabilities. Seng participated in training on inclusive education, implemented by the Cambodian government and funded by UNICEF, which aims to train teachers on specific skills for teaching children with disabilities. 

Five-year-old Chhun is one such student who enrolled in Seng’s class at the age of three. Chhun was born premature at seven months old and has been suffering from various illnesses since birth. 

“At first, he couldn’t even hold a pen,” says Seng. “He was sick often and absent four or five times during the month.” 

But thanks to Seng’s dedication as a teacher, Chhun is improving and will be ready to join Grade 1 next year.  

Do you know a special teacher like Seng in your life? Celebrate your teacher this World Teachers’ Day on 30 October with a UNICEF Inspired Gift.  

From pencils to sports packs, help them spread their love of learning to every child.  

Bringing the classroom home 

When the children in Najeeba’s family couldn’t go to class, she arranged for the next best thing: class would come to them. “I decided to teach them myself, at home,” she says. 

Like millions of students, Najeeba wasn’t able to continue studying at school due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But she was disappointed about more than just the disruption of her own plans.  

“What bothered me the most was that it disrupted children’s education,” says Najeeba, 19, who lives in Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province.  

 

Eight-year-old Mariam is one of the children benefitting from the classes. 

“It feels like being at school,” says Mariam. “At school, there are so many students that I sometimes find it difficult to get my teacher’s attention. Here, it’s easy because there are only five students.” 

Whether learning from home or in the classroom, thank a special teacher in your life with a personalised card. Give a gift that will make a real difference in the lives of children.  

In an isolated pocket of Timor-Leste, School Coordinator Nicolau has made it his life’s goal to bring quality learning to some of the country’s most hard-to-reach children. 

Nicolau is no stranger to the barriers children in his country face when trying to get an education. In his youth, Nicolau was studying in the country’s capital when violent conflict erupted. Given that his parents were also no longer able to afford his schooling, he was forced to return to the village where he grew up, putting an end to his education.  

“Back then, the community had a very old school and there were 17-year-olds who were still in Grade 1,” says Nicolau.  
 

 

Over the past 13 years as School Coordinator, Nicolau has watched the school grow and improve. 

In 2016, UNICEF began construction on a new school building, toilet facilities – including a separate stall for students and teachers with disabilities – and connected a water system, built with community and school participation.  

Before the construction, the school had three temporary wooden classrooms and no toilets. 

Nicolau says the children – ranging from preschool to Grade 6 – are happier now.  

“They have access to education and the resources they need to learn. They don’t have to walk long distances to fetch water and their teachers are able to deliver quality education to them,” says Nicolau.  

“My greatest hope for the future is that these children’s lives are changed. I want to stay here and continue teaching because I want it to develop even more.” 

Looking for a special gift for a teacher in your life? A UNICEF Inspired Gift is the perfect way to say thank you to someone who taught you so much.