“Open it, see it, admire it,” the children sing in a chorus.

Their lives may be mired in poverty, but these Iranian boys are eager to shower their teacher with gifts to show their gratitude. The teacher relents and opens the gifts to find second-hand treasures: a watch, a pen and a photo frame.

Even at a tender age, they’re exposed to hardship and injustices that they cannot escape. For some, even a simple spelling exercise brings painful thoughts.

Yet make the best of their circumstances, and find immense joy in learning and playing soccer. When one of the boys is unable to play after his shoe falls apart, he looks toward the only solution that seems viable.

Here’s a little glimpse into the realities of growing up poor.

Watch ‘Camera, School And Several Credible Narrative Of B Third Class’ by Mohammed Sadeghi (Iran) on Viddsee:

Here’s another look at growing up in poverty. Watch ‘Smile’ by Mohammad Sharain (Singapore), the story of a young teen struggling to live with his ex-convict father.

Article by Sharanya Pillai in Good on August 5, 2015