More than 8,000 teachers from around the world were nominated to be Global Teacher of the Year, and the winner for 2016 was a former refugee who decided to teach children about self respect and non-violence. Hanan al-Hroub grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp and as an adult, saw her own children changed by the violence on the West Bank. Playing games with her kids helped them to readjust, and this inspired her to return to school and get a degree in Elementary Education.

She opened her own primary school where she uses playful academic lessons to teach non-violence while building trusting and respectful relationships. Her unique approach has led to a decline in violence among students and it is being copied throughout the region. “Each day,” Al-Hroub said in her acceptance speech, “the role of the teacher is reinforced and its importance confirmed as the world questions what future we want for our children.” She plans to use the one million dollar prize money to create scholarships for outstanding students to become teachers.