Jobs: Inspiring Stories

Joanne, former child laborer, The Philippines

In The Philippines, Joanne’s family made their earnings from the family’s firecracker business. Making pyrotechnic goods is a main livelihood in some areas in the Philippines. When Joanne was just 12 years old, she began working in her family’s business. Her small earnings were used to pay for school fees. She was not doing very well in school because she was tired from working and could not focus on her studies. Joanne’s parents soon learned about how their business was hurting Joanne and they learned about child labor laws through a program implemented in her village by World Vision, an organization that works with children, families and communities in tackling poverty and injustice. Joanne’s parents and other parents in the community soon joined forces to support children’s rights. World Vision’s program gave Joanne training to help her be a community leader to promote children’s rights and assist other young workers. Joanne now attends the Polytechnic University of the Philippines and actively works for children’s rights.

Chris Gardner, Founder of Gardner Rich & Co.

Chris Gardner founded his own brokerage firm, Gardner Rich & Co. However, his success was due to his determination and hard work. Previously, he had worked as a laboratory assistant and a medical supplies salesman and was struggling to support his child and himself. He didn’t have any money, couldn’t pay his rent, and he was forced to sleep in subway station bathrooms and eat in soup kitchens. However, he never gave up. One day he met a stock broker who drove a Ferrari and Chris dreamed of doing the same. Chris’ persistence and determination earned him a position in a stock brokerage training program. He got his brokerage license and was offered a job position at Bear Stearns & Company. Chris went on to start his own brokerage firm, Gardner Rich & Co. and became a millionaire. Chris’s hard work and determination for survival and success formed the basis for the movie, The Pursuit of Happyness”.

J.K. Rowling, British Author

J.K. Rowling was born near Bristol, England and studied French at the University of Exeter. Rowling moved to Portugal to teach English shortly after her mother’s death. Rowling married in Portugal, had a daughter, but soon after, she separated from her husband. Rowling then moved to Edinburgh to live near her sister, and began writing her Harry Potter novels. During her time in Edinburgh, Rowling was on welfare and struggled with finances. After completing her first Harry Potter novel, she got it published and it became an instant hit with reading audiences. Soon after, she wrote six more Harry Potter novels and received world recognition for her Harry Potter books and the movies that followed. Forbes listed Rowling’s worth to be approximately $1 billion dollars, and she is now one of the richest people in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., social activist and leader in the U.S. Civil Right Movement

Dr. King was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta Georgia and was a Baptist minister by profession. Dr. King was a prominent leader in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement and helped African American people demand equal rights among their fellow white Americans. Dr. King believed in and followed Gandhi’s non-violent beliefs and ways, and he used these strategies to fight for equality and justice for all people and to eliminate segregation in the U.S. Dr. King is most known for his “I have a dream” speech he gave on August 28, 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Dr. King protested non-violently for equality so that black Americans could have the same education, job opportunities and freedoms as whites, and he advocated for a law forbidding racial discrimination in jobs and increasing the minimum wage. Dr. King continues to be remembered and honored throughout the world for his activism in the civil rights movement because he helped bring equality and rights for so many black Americans.

Liz Murray, Motivational Speaker and Harvard Graduate

Liz Murray was born in the Bronx, New York to parents who would spend their welfare money on their cocaine drug addictions. Liz and her sister would watch their parents doing drugs all day, and they survived by eating ice cubes. When Liz was 15, she learned that her mother had AIDS and she died shortly after. Liz’s father died from AIDS a few years later. After her mother’s death, Liz’s father did not pay the rent for their apartment so they were left homeless. Liz’s sister was able to stay on a friend’s couch, but Liz had to sleep in subway stations. When she was 17 she was determined to change her life and she began attending night classes. One teacher recognized her determination, mentored her, and took her on a tour of Harvard University. Soon after, she received a scholarship from the New York Times and was able to attend Harvard University. Liz now works as a motivational speaker around the world and talks to teenagers about the dangers of drugs and addiction. Liz is a published author and wrote a book about her difficult childhood experience and how she got to attend Harvard.