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Improving labour standards can be a challenging road – the pace of change is frustrating and the magnitude of the problems sometimes overwhelming. However, there are winning situations that remind us why we do what we do.

Successful child labour remediation is one of those and we would like to share with you the story of a child found by Impactt in a Chinese garment factory in September 2008. Fifteen when we found her, Xiao Mei had migrated from her home town for work and used a fake ID card to enter the factory. With the support of the UK based company and brand buying from the factory, Impactt was able to transition Xiao Mei back into school and she has recently completed a study programme in computer advertising design.

Below is the text of a letter Xiao Mei asked us to pass on to the companies who funded her remediation. We are sure you will agree that this makes it all worthwhile.

“Before, when I was in the factory, I did the same repetitive work every day. I worked like that every day for more than ten hours, and it was a tiring life that I had then. I had my own dreams. Every now and then I would remember them and it would make me so sad.

I was afraid that my whole life would be like that. Sometimes it made me want to cry, my dreams just pushed aside like that. I forced myself to do so much work every day. I’ll even venture that I worked harder than everyone else, sitting from morning until night-time, so tired I felt like I couldn’t stand. I wanted to earn a lot of money so that I could realize my dream – a good life for my family.

Who would have known that this day would come so suddenly and so fast? So fast I could hardly believe it was real. I left the factory and came to school, and my dreams stayed alive…I think I am a person who hopes, who doesn’t feel sorry for myself anymore. I believe this is the truth!

For me, the evidence is right there, that even though this world is harsh and calculating, there is still a little love left in it. I would rather choose to believe that life is filled with hope. At school I made myself work hard, so that someday I can take care of my family.

Everyone yearns for their dreams, and I won’t give mine up easily either. Opportunities to study, like I’ve had, don’t come easily, and that makes me treasure it even more, and focus on enriching my life with my studies. The world is improving, and I’m improving. My programme of study was advertising design, and I hope that through this, I can one day be accomplished, hardworking and grounded enough to achieve my dreams. I will never forget the people who have helped me. There is only one thing I can say to you: Thank you. I have come to know the world in a new way. I will work hard! Wish me luck!”