Millions of children worldwide have been prevented from continuing education, as a result of school closures. The COVID-19 pandemic made many institutions switch to online or remote learning, but it negatively affected children from poor and rural regions, who lacked devices and access to the internet or even electricity. However, there are some devoted teachers who would literally go the extra mile to provide every kid with lessons. In 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 gathered the local parents and authorities and shared his vision to make quality education a reality for his village. “There was a lack of knowledge among parents. They couldn’t see the importance of education for the children,” says Nicolau. “Young girls were getting married; others were getting involved in violence. I wanted to change things.” The president of the Parents and Teachers Association gifted the land on which the new school now sits.