Across the globe, nations dedicate a special day to honour the hard work and resilience of their workforce. While Canada and the United States celebrate Labour Day on the first Monday of September, many other countries observe International Workers’ Day (or May Day) on May 1st. Regardless of the date, the message remains the same: hardworking individuals are the backbone of society. Join us this Labour Day as we celebrate through the inspiring stories of Birjita and Valentia— two industrious mothers in India and Bolivia whose dedication knows no bounds.
A Mother’s Vision for Her Son
Birjita is a woman of quiet determination. At nearly 50 years old, she lives with her son, Sugany, in Birikote, a small, rural village in India of about 450 households. As a widow, Birjita has navigated immense hardship, yet she remains a loving mother filled with ambition and a true inspiration to her son. Every day, she works tirelessly, taking on demanding manual labour jobs with minimal pay to support her son.
Birjita’s commitment never wavers. Her priority has always been ensuring Sugany receives a quality education so he can grow into a responsible, independent young man. Though money was often tight, their hearts were always filled with big dreams for a brighter, more secure future.
When Birjita joined the Chalice Sponsorship Program over seven years ago, it was a partnership that brought continuous encouragement and hope to their lives. Yet, despite her hard work and tireless efforts, life in the small village remained challenging. Whenever school fees were due, Birjita still felt the weight of anxiety and uncertainty. Rather than giving up, she faced every obstacle with courage, determined to find solutions.
To help cover rising expenses, Birjita took a bold step and started a small petty shop. Her daily earnings were modest, but that extra income made a meaningful difference in funding Sugany’s education. Seeing her son in school brought her immense joy and proved that hard work and perseverance pay off.
When Birjita received an additional special money gift through Chalice, it did more than ease her financial burden — it filled her with renewed confidence that their big dreams were within reach. Today, thanks to Chalice sponsorship and his mother’s unwavering sacrifice, Sugany proudly holds a university degree in civil services, finally securing that future he and his mother dreamed possible.
Still Dreaming
In Bolivia, Valentina, a 66-year-old wife and mother, raised three children with her husband, Primitivo. Their lives were filled with great love, but also much hardship, as they toiled in fields daily as small-scale farmers to provide shelter and food for the family. Despite their immense challenges, they always dreamed of having their own business — sadly, life’s circumstances kept that goal out of reach.
Due to a lack of opportunities as a child, Valentina never learned to read or write, but she got by with what little she had: “I had many dreams that I couldn’t fulfill because my parents worked hard just to put food on the table. But now that I’m older, I still have dreams.”
One of those dreams was to learn to read and write, so with great effort and dedication, Valentina learned how to sign her name and recognize some words.
“That makes me very happy, because I understand that age is no barrier to learning new things,” she says.
Her son, Eulogio, also taught Valentina how to bake bread and they began baking for the family in a small clay oven. But when they had to move, their new home had no oven and no nearby stores, making it difficult to get bread.
Undeterred, Valentina continued to dream and then she learned she was receiving a small oven and a jug through generous Chalice Gift Catalogue donors. She was overwhelmed because this wonderful gift gave her the tools to not only bake for her family again, but also to take the necessary steps to fulfil her dream of starting her own business.
With her son’s support and guidance, Valentina began baking and selling bread. While there was a time of trial and error — some loaves came out hard, others too big, or too small, some even burned — with patience, practice, and sheer determination, she began to master her baking skills.
Today, she goes out to the sidewalk in front of her house every afternoon with two benches and a basket full of fresh bread and sells to her friends and neighbours. She started making 20 loaves a day, and a week later, she was already making 30. Now, Valentina bakes 50 loaves a day, each made with love, dedication, and a pinch of her next big dream — for her little business to continue growing.