77-year-old retired teacher now homeless; former students donate GHc 150k to him
- A Californian teacher in the US was given a pleasant surprise by his former students
- The 77-year-old teacher was living in his 24-year-old car for close to eight years because he was sending all his salary back to his family in Mexico
- His former students raised GHc 150k to help him get a house and support his family even as he continues teaching
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A 77-year-old teacher who has been living in his car got a boost from his former students who raised GHc 150k to help him live a better life.
Source: UGC
Jose Villarruel was working as a substitute teacher but as soon as the pandemic hit, he was among the first workers who were sent home without pay.
One of his former students Steven Nava noticed that he was always moving around his car and sleeping in it.
He then decided to rally other students to raise money so that they could help the teacher.
Initially, their goal was to raise KSh 500k but they were shocked that the amount raised was almost six times their starting goal.
When turning 77 years old on Thursday, 11, the students decided to surprise him with goodies and the check while also serenading him for shaping their lives.
“We do not appreciate these teachers enough, and that is something that we should be doing,” said Nava.
According to the teacher, he has been living in his 24-year-old car for close to eight years.
But things got worse for him when the pandemic started when schools closed and he was left with no income and no job.
He literally carried everything in his car, powers his laptop via the car battery electricity and he says, he cannot afford to rent a house because he has his family back in Mexico who rely on his salary.
He could not believe what his students had done for him and he said:
“I am still trying to digest the entire experience, it is extraordinary. Totally unexpected.”
His students then gave him all the goodies they had for him and watched him drive off.
Elsewhere, a groom was in the past featured after he invited his bride's students with Down's Syndrome to their wedding as a gift to her.
Cintia and Jose stood in front of their friends and family, ready to declare that they were ready to love each other forever.
However, moments, before they exchanged their vows, smartly dressed kids with Down's syndrome, walked in and some were holding colourful bouquets.
They were Cintia's students and Jose had invited them as a surprise to her. Seeing the students made her breakdown into tears and she hugged them all when they arrived at the altar.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
Ebenezer Agbey Quist (HOD Human-Interest) Ebenezer Agbey Quist is the Head of the Human Interest Desk at YEN.com.gh. He has a BSc in Chemical Engineering from KNUST (2017) with 8 years of experience as a writer and 3 years as an editor. He has certificates in AFP courses on digital investigation techniques. At YEN.com.gh, Ebenezer has won the Outstanding Achievement for Professional Conduct Award and the Best Human Interest Editor Award. He is also the author of 3 books. You can contact him via ebenezer.quist@yen.com.gh.
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