At 7, Evans’ life took a horrible turn. At 16, sponsors and donors gave Evans the chance to dream about a future she never thought possible.

Evans poses in pictures with her students, each holding an award for their accomplishments in her class. One at a time, she hands them their award, smiles, and gives them a quick hug or makes a funny face while the camera snaps a picture. Evans loves her students.

She believes wholeheartedly that each of the kids in her class is special — and that education can help them reach their dreams.

She knows this is true because education also changed her life.

When Evans was 7, the abuse started. In the Philippines, poverty is rampant, jobs are scarce and many families migrate to find work. That was true when Evans was a child, and it’s still true today. When her mom got the chance to work as a dressmaker in another part of the country, she left Evans with family friends.