An art teacher in the UK has won a highly-competitive teaching prize worth more than a million dollars for her work with students from one of Britain's poorest and most ethinically diverse areas.
Andria Zafirakou beat out some 30,000 applicants from around the world to win the Global Teacher Prize, which honours one exceptional teacher a year who's made a significant contribution to the profession.
The 39-year-old won the global award - worth US$1 million, or about AU$1.3million - for helping students feel welcome and safe in a borough with one of the highest murder rates in the country.
Ms Zafirakou was awarded the annual Global Teacher Prize during a star-studded ceremony in Dubai on Sunday hosted by comedian Trevor Noah of the "Daily Show".
Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was on hand to present the prize.
Students from disadvantaged backgrounds
Ms Zafirakou, a teacher at Alperton Community School, was awarded for her work in the London borough of Brent.
The area is one of the most ethnically diverse places in the country with and 130 languages spoken in its schools.
Her students come from some of the poorest families in Britain with parents who don't necessarily speak English.
Many share one house with five other families and are continually exposed to gang violence.
Ms Zafirakou, who was born in London, praised the diversity of her school's population and said the students are intense in their pursuit of education despite living in crowded homes where it is hard to find a quiet place to study and where many have to care for their siblings after school.
"What is amazing is that whatever issues they are having at home, whatever is missing from their lives or causes them pain, our school is theirs", she said.
British Prime Minister Theresa May has issued a video congratualting Ms Zafirakou on the award "on behalf of everyone" in the UK.
"To be chosen from more than 30,000 nominees in 173 countries, is an incredible achievement and it’s a fitting tribute to everything you’ve done for your pupils at Alperton Community School," she said.
"Whether it’s learning how to greet people in each of their 35 first languages or organising extra-curricular activities around their lives, rather than the school day, you have shown enormous creativity and dedication in your work."
Art transcends language
Ms Zafirakou, who works as an art and textiles teacher, stressed the importance of funding arts programs in schools and said such programmes teach students how to think creatively, but also teach them resilience and perseverance.
“They’re powerful subjects,” she says. “They help the students unlock all of their language barriers.”
Ms Zafirakou introduced an ‘artist in residence’, who helps the students on a technical level, but also offers an outlet for what can be challenging and difficult home circumstances.
When asked what she plans to do with the huge prize money, she said she'd like to think about a project for her community that celebrates creativity.
