Posts Tagged ‘school’

FairMail manager and former photographer Anidela has graduated!

Tuesday, May 11th, 2021

A major achievement for her and an endless source of pride for FairMail

Anidela joined FairMail in 2011 when she was 13 old. After retiring as a photographer, she applied for the position of FairMail Operational Manager in Peru and she has been working in this position ever since. Parallel to her commitment in FairMail, Anidela has never ceased to pursue her number 1 goal which was graduating from university. With a research thesis on the working conditions of the employees of a medium-size Peruvian agricultural company, on April 14, 2021, she graduated from the faculty of Administración de Empresas y Servicios (Business Administration) at the Universidad Privada “Leonardo da Vinci”. After 5 years and over 50 exams, her dream came true. We interviewed Anidela about her achievement and this is what she told us:

Anidela, why did you choose Business Administration?
At first, I was more interested in Accounting. In High School I was particularly good with numbers so I thought that Accounting would match my talent with numbers. Then I met an employee of the company where my father works, and she inspired me to pursue a career in Business Administration. I am very happy with my choice now because Business Administration has a more comprehensive curriculum that also includes human resources, occupational health and salary management, so I have more chances to find a job.

You have reached a major life goal; how do you feel about that?
I couldn’t be happier. The day of the presentation of my thesis I was very nervous, I hadn’t been able to sleep and eat properly for a week! Due to Covid restrictions, the presentation was online, and I decided to present my research from the FairMail office because the internet connection in my house is not always reliable and I didn’t want to take any risks. Fortunately, all went well! I am also particularly proud of the fact that, thanks to my proceeds from FairMail, I was able to finance my studies alone, without impacting the family budget. I’ve always been independent and that is a priceless feeling.

How does your family feel about you graduating?
They are very proud of me. I am the first in my family to graduate, which makes them very happy. I am very lucky because they have always supported my choice and I have always felt that they were on my side throughout these years.

What role did FairMail play in your education?
I always think that if it hadn’t been for FairMail I wouldn’t have enrolled at university, let alone graduate. When I was a photographer, I kept reminding myself that if I worked well and took good pictures, I would have more chances to sell them and I would earn more money to pay for my studies, and that’s what happened. My family couldn’t afford to cover the costs of my studies as my older sister was also studying at that time, so FairMail played an instrumental role in my education.

Any plans for the future?
Well…a lot! First of all, I plan to keep working as FairMail operational manager, it’s a job that I really like and that gives me financial stability, which is very important considering the times we’re living in. When things improve, I would like to look for a part-time job in Business Administration. My long-term goal is to set up my own chocolate candy business. This is something that I have been doing informally for many years now and I would like to turn it into a small side business.

Anidela’s achievement is FairMail’s achievement as she perfectly embodies our mission: promoting education as the driving force to social and economic empowerment so we couldn’t be happier to see her reach this milestone.

Congratulations, Anidela, you have made us all very happy and proud!

Schools in Peru closed early due to “El Nino”

Tuesday, December 8th, 2015

In Peru the school year normally ends in December. However, this year the Peruvian government decided to speed things up with classes 6 days a week so they could already finish in November. This way the government hoped to finish the exams in time for the heavy “El Nino” rains that are expected to start in December. These would most likely mean that a large part of the students can’t make it to school for their final exams due to expected floodings.

During the last big “El Nino” in 1998 Huanchaco became isolated due to dry river beds turning into raging rivers, displacing many families who had nowhere else to build their homes. Fingers crossed this time it won’t be so devastating and that the preventive measures will prevent similar tragedies.

Although the final report cards aren’t in yet it seems that all of the current FairMail teenagers in Peru passed on to the next grade this year. Hurray! Even Dante who broke his right arm in a soccer match last month managed to finish primary school as he was allowed to do his final exams orally.

FairMail Peru photographer Juan Gabriel standing in front of the Kepler Academy

FairMail Peru photographer Juan Gabriel standing in front of the Kepler Academy

In the meantime, two high school graduates from earlier this year, Juan Gabriel and Maria de los Angeles, are preparing themselves for the big entry exam for the National University (UNT) in March next year. On average only the top 10% with the highest scores are allowed into the UNT.

As 17 year old Juan Gabriel finished high school studying only in the weekends he has a lot of catching up to do. With his part of the earnings from the sale of his FairMail cards he is now studying at the Kepler academy in Trujillo 6 days a week. Besides teaching him new subjects which he never learned before he also gets to practice a lot of old exams. Every week his test results are increasing so he seems to be on the right track for the March exam.

In the meantime, 18 year old Angeles is choosing a different route. Unfortunately, she didn’t get a high enough score in last March’s admission exam due to nerves. Therefore, this time she is studying at the CEPUNT institute. This is a very competitive institute which guarantees direct entry into the university for the students with the highest average marks after 3 partial exams. If she manages to finish in the top 8 of over 60 CEPUNT students who want to study social work like Angeles does she will enter the university directly. She finished in 18th place after the first partial exam, so Angeles still has a lot of work to do. Fingers crossed for her next partial exam coming Sunday.

Going to school with FairMail in India

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

Thanks to your purchases of FairMail cards our teenage photographers in India can “go to school with FairMail”. So we thought it would be fun to take YOU to school in India. Below you can see how some of the teenagers from FairMail India go to their schools and what it is like there.

Ankita walks from her home to school with a friend:

Ankita walking to her school

Anuj goes to school by bike, which he bought with his FairMail money. Before they go into class they pray together outside.
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Akaash and Anil walk together to their tutor. Both can’t go to an ordinary school yet, so they use their FairMail money to hire a private teacher and get them back to a normal school level.

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Anshu show FairMail pioneer Janneke where her school is.
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Sandhya’s school just moved. So she bought a bicycle with her FairMail money to get to her school. She even gets dancing lessons there!
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Kaushal goes to the same school as Sandhya and so he also bought a bike! He really enjoys the music lessons.
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