Story: Rise and Dream

Parents everywhere want the best for their children. Mothers and fathers work hard to support their kids, trying to give them the opportunity to reach their potential, helping them to "Rise and Dream."

That optimism is clear in this story of 13 teenagers living with the challenges of poverty in a volatile region of the Philippines.

When the teens volunteer to learn the music traditions of their culture for a once-in-a-lifetime concert, the task is more difficult than they first imagined. Playing the instruments with precision is nuanced, the rehearsal schedule is demanding, and then there's school and work.

As some of the best Filipino folk musicians sign on to open for the kids and the expected attendance for the show triples in size, the pressure mounts. The audience will be the kids' families, friends and thousands of others from marginalized communities. At the same time, parents and other community members help with the event logistics, facing obstacle after obstacle and dealing with seemingly impossible details.

The story follows the teens through their music practice and into their neighborhoods and homes. The kids approach the challenges of poverty with dignity and embrace religious diversity among a population of Christians, Muslims and other religious backgrounds.

The perseverance of the teens as they prepare for the concert is inspiring, but the triumph of the teens and their families in their everyday lives invites us to a new understanding of people living in poverty.