Em is a student at the University of Sussex, currently on placement at a primary school in the UK that is chronically underfunded. She has witnessed first-hand the pressure the staff are under - overworked, under-resourced, and supporting children whose needs often spill out as anger, distress, and disruption. And yet, despite it all, every member of staff turns up each day with care, humour, and an unwavering commitment to making learning joyful. She is using the $500 to create a well-being gift basket for the teachers - a collection of vouchers they can use as and when they need. This includes rage room sessions (with extra time generously matched by a local Brighton venue), massages, gym passes, pottery classes, stationery gift cards, karaoke slots, and other creative ways to let off steam. She’ll also pair these with simple mindfulness tools, recognising that while these are “plasters”, moments of relief still matter. Her idea is about acknowledgement. A quiet but powerful thank you to educators who keep smiling, adapting, and showing up — even when the plans are on fire and the lemons are rock hard.