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Kzanier invierte sus ganancias en diseño gráfico y un Macbook

miércoles, noviembre 1st, 2017

Kzanier with his new Macbook

A great example of a teenager who is working well towards his goals is 17-year-old Kzanier from FairMail Peru. In September 2017 he started his second semester at the private ITN institute in Trujillo where he is studying a 3-year career in graphic design. With the Apple laptop he just bought from his FairMail money he is already better equipped than FairMail’s inhouse designer!

Getting up early

Kzanier started studying at the ITN in March 2017. It is regarded as one of the best private institutes in Northern Peru to study graphic design, with experienced teachers and up-to-date equipment. Combining his new studies with his classes at FairMail and his part-time job in a shoe shop, the first months weren’t easy for Kzanier. “What hit me most in the beginning was getting my schedule organised as I was also working. I also had to get up really early but now I am used to that” he explains.

Kzanier with his new DSLR camera

Step by step

Kzanier is working very focussed on his future, taking one step at a time. He has it all worked out. With his FairMail earnings he already bought his own DSLR camera and is now saving up to buy different lenses he needs for his future work. He hopes to be able to combine working as a graphic designer with doing professional photography. He already did his first paid wedding photo shoot! With the MacBook he bought from his FairMail money he can edit his pictures and turn them into great looking designs.

Studying Marketing and International business afterwards

That way he hopes to have everything set up to earn a living. And pay for his marketing and international business study he hopes to continue after finishing at the ITN. Have a look at Kzanier’s cards here to see if you can give him a helping hand to get there. One step at a time.

Kzanier with his family

Tags: impact, invest, kzanier, logros, impacto social, adolescentes
Posted in FairMail, Perú | No Comments »

Primer ex fotógrafo de FairMail India admitido en una universidad nacional

miércoles, septiembre 20th, 2017

Former FairMail India photographer Anil Rao

Ever since FairMail India had to close its doors there has been less news about the teenagers who used to be part of the FairMail India team. But this time we have some huge news: Anil Rao managed to pass the entrance exam and get admitted to study chemistry, zoology and botany at the BHU University in Varanasi! Passing the entrance exam is normally already a huge achievement but Anil managed to do so with even bigger challenges in his personal life.

Anil’s father passes away

Anil entered FairMail India at the age of 14 and was always somewhat the professor of the group, aiming to become a big man as he called it by studying at the BHU university. Just before finishing high school his father passed away due to tuberculosis, leaving his family behind with Anil as the oldest son. At that moment, we were all terribly worried he would have to give up his academic aspirations in order to earn a living for his family. Luckily his mother managed to earn some money and Anil could work as assistant manager for FairMail India at the time.

Anil with his family

Fighting tuberculosis

When FairMail India had to close his doors our partner Asha Deep employed Anil by making him responsible for the teenagers’ money withdrawals from their FairMail funds. Then tragedy struck again, this time his sister got TBC causing new stress and of course the fear the disease would continue to spread within the family. Eventually it did and Anil was also diagnosed with TBC.

After fighting the disease during more than a year Anil’s health improved and he could focus full force again on his study and prepare for the entrance exam with private tuition.

A dream comes true

With as result that Anil passed the entrance exam. On the 20th of July 2017, his dream came true and he will start his 3 year bachelor study at the public university, aiming at specializing in chemistry after 2 years. As it is a public university the costs of studying are quite low, so Anil hopes to save the earnings from the continued sale of his FairMail cards for his master’s study in the future.

It goes without saying that we are extremely proud of Anil and hope that his success is a source of inspiration for the other former FairMail teenagers in his surroundings.

Tags: anil rao, educación, logros, impacto social, adolescentes
Posted in FairMail, India | No Comments »

Segundo estudiante FairMail se gradúa de la Universidad

miércoles, julio 12th, 2017

Yuli at the moment of her graduation

11 years after FairMail started, former photographer Yuli (23, Peru) gave us the best birthday present of all by graduating from University.

An amazing achievement if you consider that as a little girl Yuli had to help her parents select stones and gravel at the quarry to help make ends meet after moving from the mountains to the big city. One generation later their daughter got a bachelor title in Languages from the highly ranked national university of Trujillo. And Yuli is not planning to stop right there.

An amazing path
Yuli entered FairMail in 2008 at the age of 15 years, after being scouted from the YMCA project that works with at risk teenagers near the Trujillo land-fill. Back then she was a very shy girl but it was already clear that she wanted to achieve more in life.

She reached her goal of passing the entrance exam for the National University on her second try in 2013, the same year she travelled to Europe for FairMail’s promotional tour. She soon got the hang of travelling, going to the United States for the past 2 winters to practice her English while working in resort hotels.

Read more about Yuli’s path on her personal profile page or in this video:

Next steps
Yuli wants to keep on studying to get a MSc. degree in Education. “I am checking to see if I can do my master degree in another country through a scholarship or something like that. I always believed that investing in education is the best step towards success” she says. No doubt that the income she keeps earning from the sale of her FairMail cards, on top of the 8.744 euro she already earned, will come in handy for that.

Yuli next to her very proud mother

Shining example
Yuli’s success is not only benefitting herself. She has also become a shining example for her surroundings. 2 of her brothers and sisters are now also in university. And during her 2 years as co-manager of FairMail Peru she inspired many of the current FairMail teenagers to believe in their own dreams. “I always told everyone that you have to do what you really like if you want to pick the fruits of your efforts.” Yuli says.

Wise lessons from Yuli
Yuli has more lessons for all of us: “I also believe that is very important to never disappoint the people that believe in you, that support you and that love you. It doesn’t matter what your goal in life is, what really matters is how much effort, dedication and affection you put into achieving it.”

This way she shows great respect to her parents who greatly sacrificed themselves so their children could have a better future. And also making the best possible use of the assistance FairMail gives to underprivileged teenagers.

Tags: educación, impact, logros, impacto social, adolescentes, yuli
Posted in FairMail, Perú | No Comments »

Mision Posible: Paul y Dante en camino para ser estrellas en futbol.

miércoles, julio 12th, 2017

Paul and Dante with their new team mates

Remember the news about the “Mission Possible” project aimed at helping the FairMail teenagers identify and chase their own dreams?

Only a few months later, Paul and Dante have already achieved their goal by getting admitted into a soccer academy. Step one according to them to follow the steps of their soccer heroes Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.

Paul managed to get into a local soccer academy

Paul showing off his skills

True empowerment
The core of the Mission Possible project is that the teenagers have to come up with their OWN dreams and their OWN action plan with steps that THEY can take. It would probably seem a lot easier if FairMail took them by the hand to undertake the necessary actions. But real empowerment according to us is to guide them from one step behind, leaving all the action and decisions to them, and of course their parents.

Perhaps taking some wrong decisions along the way. But hey, you can only learn from your mistakes right? And if in the end they achieve their goals they can feel extra proud and generate even more self-esteem as the success was really thanks to their own efforts!

Dante wants to get admitted in a soccer academy

Dante’s dream is winning the golden ball

How to get to play for Real Madrid or Barcelona?

In the case of Paul and Dante their dream is to become a professional soccer player. That way they hope to be able to help their families and make them proud. Both love soccer and play every day with the other kids at the Mundo de Ninos boys’ home where they both live. To get to a higher level and possibly be scouted by professional soccer clubs they needed to enter a soccer academy. Which is not as easy as becoming member of a soccer club in Europe for example. Through their own effort and asking help from people around them, they got a chance to show their talent at FC Cantera in Trujillo. They apparently impressed their coaches as both got admitted!

Hopefully in the next newsletter we will have more news about other teenagers achieving their Mission Possible. Stay tuned.

Tags: Dante, impact, paul, logros, impacto social, adolescentes
Posted in FairMail, Perú | No Comments »

El impacto que realmente importa: la vida después de salir de FairMail

miércoles, septiembre 7th, 2016

A unique FairMail soccer ball made in Mariluz’ soccer ball factory

In our earlier newsletter you read about FairMail’s impact expressed in numbers. And personal stories about FairMail’s impact on the lives of our current teenagers. But perhaps the most important is the life our former photographers are living years after leaving FairMail.

As this year FairMail is celebrating its 10th birthday we can now provide you with that insight, based on the stories of Pasquel and Mariluz. Both of them left FairMail over 5 years ago and are now leading an independent life as entrepreneurs.

Iconic fair trade image
Mariluz was one of FairMail’s first 6 teenage photographers way back in 2006. She was nearly 16 years old back then. We got to know her through ACJ, a local branch of the YMCA, working with families who make a living of recycling on the nearby garbage belt.

Mariluz’ iconic FairMail photo of local beauty

With this iconic FairMail picture of a butterfly in a flower, taken in front of her house, Mariluz showed us the potential of finding and commoditizing local beauty even in places where you would not expect it.

Mariluz’ bumpy road
Her FairMail career wasn’t the smoothest in the beginning. We even had to suspend her for a couple of months due to motivational problems. But she got the message and worked on her behavior. We gave her a second chance which she grabbed with both hands. This way becoming a valued team member until she retired in 2009 at the age of 19. Her mother being diagnosed with cancer didn’t help her to pursue her educational dreams. However in the end her mother recovered and Mariluz managed to finish studying to become a bank clerk with the 2.352 euro she earned from the sale of her cards.

Mariluz operating one of the soccer ball machines

The smallest soccer ball factory
Since she moved in with her boyfriend, she has combined studying with running a small soccer ball factory. Together with the rest of the family they can produce around 200 soccer balls a week. They even do personalized soccer balls like this ball Mariluz made especially for FairMail.

At the moment Mariluz is studying Marketing & International Business with which she hopes to help her soccer ball factory grow further.

Running away from home

Pasquel with his family when he was 15 years old

Pasquel was one of FairMail’s second generation photographers who joined FairMail in 2009 at the age of 14. After school and during his holidays he worked on the rubbish dump, collecting cardboard and plastic to sell. His father lived and worked elsewhere.

At the age of 16 Pasquel left Trujillo and FairMail to search for his father. After finding him Pasquel stayed with his father and they worked in construction together for a couple of years in the jungle and we kind of lost touch of him.

Starting a family business

Paquel at a livestock fair

Until earlier this year when Pasquel called us. By now he was living with his girlfriend in the South of Peru. He wanted to quit his job in an agricultural processing plant and set up his own business trading livestock. His new girlfriend’s uncle was experienced in the business and wanted to help him. Together they made a plan for Pasquel’s business as this is one of the criteria if the teenagers want to use their FairMail earnings to invest in a business.
In the end the business plan was approved and Pasquel was able to withdraw the money from the sale of his cards which FairMail saved for him over the past few years. He invested this in purchasing 3 calves, their food and medicine. From the sale he has been able to reinvest in his business and he managed to make a profit.

Lessons learned
Of course every teenager has a unique and personal story. What we can learn about the lives of Pasquel and Mariluz is the positive impact of finding a partner coming from a stable and welcoming family. Especially after the lives they have led as kids in broken families, these new surroundings provide them with needed support, advise and stability. Surroundings in which Pasquel and Mariluz are now able to make full use of the earnings and life lessons they learned in FairMail. Both of them remember the fun times when they were part of FairMail and often mention that they learned that you have to grab opportunities when they are presented to you in life.

Mariluz in her home, together with her boyfriend

Tags: impact, mariluz, pasquel, logros, impacto social, adolescentes
Posted in FairMail, Perú | No Comments »

Maria flor: primer graduado universitario de FairMail

miércoles, septiembre 7th, 2016

This year FairMail is celebrating its tenth anniversary. We got the biggest gift of all from former FairMail Peru photographer Maria flor who became the first FairMail teenager to get a university degree! And also the first in her family. In July she defended her thesis successfully and finished the 5-year communications sciences degree at the UCV private university.

Stand out from the rest
When Maria flor started studying she had a very clear goal: to stand out from the rest. As this would be the best guarantee for a better future. A clear example of this is the story she told about her best memory over the past 5 years:

“At my private university the monthly fees are very high. When I went to pay for my second semester the secretary told me I didn’t have to pay anything as I got the highest grades of all during the first semester. I was sure it had to be a mistake. So I asked her to check again please. But it was true. I was in shock and couldn’t think at all. But later in the bus back home I was very happy that all my effort, dedication, determination and invested time had been worthwhile.”

In many of the following semesters Maria flor repeated this performance and received more scholarships for her high scores.

Finding a job in Peru
Even with a university degree finding a good job is not easy in Peru. A lot depends on who you know amongst potential employers so they can recommend you. Moreover, most employers are looking for employees with experience. And usually the first years you have to deal with being lowest in the hierarchy so your next job can be better. To increase your chances to find a job it is also very important to have various degrees.

Plans for the future
So it looks like Maria flor isn’t finished studying yet. She wants to complement her degree with studying English, graphic design and audio visual techniques. And she wants to work as Au Pair in the USA for one year.

“Perhaps it sounds a bit crazy because normally after finishing university people look for a job. But I want to try something different as I like learning new things, work on my English and feel that I can do something by myself as I have always lived with my mother, brothers and sister. When I return I want to study “international business” and travel to Canada as there are opportunities for Peruvian students to do an internship there.”

That’s Maria flor, always working on new goals.

The next generation
With Maria flor out of university we currently have two Peruvian teenagers in University: Yuli and Anidela. Actually three as Juan Gabriel just started studying communication sciences at the UPAO private university in August. On his way to become FairMail’s first male university graduate?

Tags: educación, maria_flor, Perú, logros, impacto social, adolescentes
Posted in FairMail, Perú | No Comments »

Informe anual del impacto social en el 2015

miércoles, abril 27th, 2016

Angeles earning money while learning photography

Somos muy orgullosos por poder presentar el tercer informe anual del impacto social de FairMail. Abajo usted puede leer que impacto usted está apoyando con el envío de nuestros postales de comercio justo y con la compra de nuestros imágenes de comercio justo.

“Ganar mientras estudiar”

En el 2015 los 55 jóvenes fotógrafos ganaron un total de 23.601 euro para invertir en su propia educación, las casas de sus familias y costos médicos. Dinero que ganaron durante los clases de fotografía gratuitas en su “centro juvenil” que auto financiaron con medios propios. Gracias a este logro llegamos al monto total de más que 165.000 euro ganando por los jóvenes, un año antes de nuestro décimo aniversario.

Anidela in front of the university where she is studying

Los chicos con mayores ganancias en el 2015 eran Anidela y Kzanier del Perú, con 1.666 y 1.132 euro cada uno el año pasado. Anidela (18) actualmente está estudiando administración en una Universidad privada y Kzanier (16) está ahorrando para poder estudiar diseño gráfico en un instituto privado luego de terminar la secundaria este ano.

Porcentaje de chicos que deja de estudiar es más bajo que cifra nacional

Estas ganancias son esenciales para que los chicos pueden lograr sus metas. Pero solo el dinero no es suficiente. Su éxito también dependerá de su propia perseverancia, situación familiar y motivación personal.

Por diferentes razones el 22% de los chicos que empezaron con FairMail no lograron completar su tiempo con nosotros hasta la edad de jubilación de 19 años (21% en 2014 y 20% en 2013). Estos 12 chicos perdieron su motivación, se dejaron influir mucho por “amigos” malos o tenían problemas familiares tan graves que no podrían continuar en FairMail. En el 2015 también perdimos a dos chicos por razones similares. Ambos todavía reciben su parte de las ganancias de la venta de sus postales para pagar sus estudios. Uno está en secundaria y el otro está estudiando contabilidad.

Diana, Jorge and Angeles after finishing high school

47 de los 55 chicos que empezaron con FairMail lograron terminar sus secundaria o todavía están en la secundaria. (en 2014 la cifra era similar con 85%). Nada mal tomando en cuenta la situación de los jóvenes con quienes trabajamos. También si lo comparas con la cifra nacional de la India donde solo el 42% de los jóvenes termina secundaria (o el 62% del quintal más pobre en el Perú que termina secundaria). Lamentablemente 8 jóvenes de FairMail no terminaron su secundara por razones como tener que trabajar para aumentar el ingreso familiar o poca motivación para estudiar.

97% de los jóvenes de FairMail siguen estudiando después de terminar la secundaria

De los chicos que terminaron su secundaria el 59% ha continuado de estudiar careras universitarias o preparase parta esto en una academia. Parece que las ganas para una carrera universitaria es contagiosa en la pandilla positive de FairMail . El 38% ha continuado con una carrera ocupacional. En total esto se suma a 97% de los jóvenes que decidieron de seguir estudiando luego de terminar la secundaria. Somos muy orgullosos por este porcentaje de casi 100%! Solo un chico decidió de no seguir estudiando. El empezó su propio negocio de compra y venta de ganado por lo cual no necesitaba formación como su suegro lo pudo ensenar todo. También somos muy orgullosos del!

The teenagers aiming for a better future

El 94% de los jóvenes “jubilados” rompen la cadena de pobreza

En este momento el 69% de los chicos de FairMail están estudiando algo. De los que ya no estudian el 65% tiene un trabajo digno como en el turismo, ventas o como profesor). 5 chicos tienen su empresa propia (29%, igual que el año anterior) como una panadería, fábrica de pelotas, fotógrafo o taller mecánico. De esta manera ellos rompieron la cadena de pobreza y tienen la oportunidad de formar una familia en lo cual sus hijos tendrán oportunidades mayores que ellos mismos recibieron de sus padres.

No es solo éxito. Uno de los ex-chicos se encuentra actualmente en una situación en lo cual básicamente trabajo como esclava haciendo tareas en la casa y otro chico falleció por su enfermedad. También “perdimos” a 12 chicos en el camino, antes que llegaron a los 19 años. Seguimos vendiendo sus postales e intentamos de mantener el contacto para ayudarlos si es posible. Felizmente los 12 están bien. Están en colegio, tienen su empresa propia o un trabajo digno.

Visual showing FairMail’s input, activities, output, outcome and impact in 2015.

Visual showing FairMail’s input, activities, output, outcome and impact in 2015. Click to view large version.

Tags: anidela, educación, kzanier, logros, impacto social
Posted in FairMail | No Comments »

Altos, bajos y planes de los jóvenes fotógrafos de FairMail Peru

jueves, febrero 4th, 2016

FairMail Peru photographer Paul telling about his highs and lows

For the Peruvian teenagers 2015 was a year full of broken bones, broken friendships, getting first place, getting promoted, valuable lessons in life and many other things.

Especially for you, we asked the teenagers to update their personal profile pages with last year’s highs and lows. Plus their plans for the coming year, explaining how they plan to use their part of the earnings from the sale of their fair trade FairMail cards to enter university, study English and start a new business among other things.

Click here to read their own stories.

We also uploaded short new videos of the 4 newest FairMail teenagers presenting themselves which you can view below: