{"id":5369,"date":"2023-12-13T21:43:29","date_gmt":"2023-12-14T01:43:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/breaking-records-to-help-underprivileged-kids\/"},"modified":"2023-12-13T21:43:29","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T01:43:29","slug":"breaking-records-to-help-underprivileged-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/breaking-records-to-help-underprivileged-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking Records to Help Underprivileged Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/hop.clickbank.net\/?affiliate=infohatch&amp;vendor=J1R2C\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10614 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png\" alt=\"Profit Gen\" width=\"400\" height=\"217\" srcset=\"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png 400w, https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px-300x163.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Some heroes wear capes. Others wear some sort of form-fitting suit.\u00a0<strong>Maria Concei\u00e7\u00e3o<\/strong>, on the other hand, wears unassuming belted floral-print flowy maxi dresses.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t be thrown off by her choice of \u201ccapes.\u201d It\u2019s her life choices that\u2019ve gotten her from being a toilet cleaner to an Emirates flight attendant to breaking not one, not two, but\u00a0<em>nine Guinness world records<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Oh wow!<\/em>\u201d is an appropriate response to this incredible feat. But the mind-blowing, this-is really-what-deserves-the-proper-oh-wow reason behind it all? To lift hundreds of children out of abject poverty from the slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>The hardest thing I\u2019ve ever done in my life has been honoring a promise I made to 100 mothers and families in Bangladesh that I was going to take them out of poverty<\/em>,\u201d she says\u00a0on stage at Mindvalley University 2023\u00a0in Tallinn, Estonia.<\/p>\n<p>That commitment was made in 2005. And it\u2019s one that she\u2019s stuck to like glue, transforming it into a lifelong mission that has reshaped not just her own destiny but the futures of those she\u2019s vowed to uplift.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Watch the full 45-minute stage talk:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ep #033 | How Maria Concei\u00e7\u00e3o Broke 10 Records To Help Children to Transform Their Lives\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6OiX6fj8d9s?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ep\u00a0#033\u00a0| How Maria Concei\u00e7\u00e3o Broke 9 Records to Help Children to Transform Their Lives<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-making-of-maria-conceicao-s-mission\">The Making of Maria Concei\u00e7\u00e3o\u2019s Mission<\/h2>\n<p>The hardship and reality of survival that come with poverty aren\u2019t a stark contrast to Maria\u2019s own upbringing. Born in Portugal to a single mother, her earliest memories are of a world far removed from privilege.<\/p>\n<p>When she was only two, her mother, grappling with joblessness, entrusted Maria to the care of\u00a0Cristina, a kind-hearted Angolan refugee and widow who was also a cleaner. This new home, though crowded with Christina\u2019s six children, offered Maria a haven of stability and warmth.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, tragedy was not far behind. At the age of nine, her world was upended by Cristina\u2019s sudden death, thrusting her into an uncertain future.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>Pretty much from that point, I was told the only thing I could expect to achieve in life was to be a cleaner<\/em>,\u201d she recalls. \u201c<em>At the age of 18, I told myself, if the only thing I\u2019m going to achieve in life is to be a cleaner, I\u2019ll refuse to \u2018just be a cleaner.\u2019 I\u2019m going to be the Ronaldo or the Messi of the cleaning world.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Off she went to Switzerland. Then England. Each move was driven by a desire to transcend\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/limiting-beliefs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">limiting beliefs<\/a>\u00a0and carve out a different path for herself.<\/p>\n<p>But it was in Dubai, as an Emirates flight attendant, that\u00a0<em>the\u00a0<\/em>Maria Concei\u00e7\u00e3o arrived. Little did she know that a routine layover in Dhaka would expose her to the harrowing poverty of the slums\u2014a haunting reminder of her own past and the catalyst for her life-changing commitment to the 100 mothers and families in Bangladesh.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-breaking-records-breaking-barriers\">Breaking Records, Breaking Barriers<\/h2>\n<p>Here are\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohchr.org\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/issues\/poverty\/sr\/20230529-EOM-Bangladesh-poverty.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the facts<\/a>\u00a0(as per the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights): By 2022, 20.5% of Bangladeshis living in rural areas were in poverty. In urban areas, the figure stood at 14.7%.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>I understood what was the meaning of poverty, and I thanked God for everything I had and didn\u2019t have. So what did I ended up doing? I ended up doing exactly what Cristina had done to my mother. I ended up promising these struggling families in the slams of Dhaka that I was going to take care of their children until they finished their education.<\/p>\n<p><cite>\u2014 Maria Concei\u00e7\u00e3o<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Raising funds for such a cause is not as easy as going door-to-door. Not everyone has the same virtues or values to hand over their hard-earned cash.<\/p>\n<p>So what did Maria do? \u201c<em>I googled on the internet: What is the quickest and most efficient way to make money?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Short of going to Ellen or Oprah or anyone famous (which she tried, mind you), the digital ether whispered back with an idea as wild as it was daunting: the world of extreme challenges.<\/p>\n<p>This is nothing new; tons of people have undertaken extreme endeavors for noble causes. Environmental advocate Roz Savage rowed across oceans to spotlight the urgency of protecting our planet. Adventurer Erik Weihenmayer, despite being blind, conquered the Seven Summits. Palestinian refugee\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/mostafa-salameh\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mostafa Salameh<\/a>\u00a0climbed Everest for peace and unity.<\/p>\n<p>Maria was about to be the next. The thing was, though, Maria was no seasoned polar explorer. Yet, she plunged into the challenge with an enthusiasm that belied her novice status, breaking records in her wake.<\/p>\n<p>She became the first Portuguese woman to go to the North Pole. Then, the first Portuguese woman to stand atop Everest. Then, running marathons (\u201c<em>seven marathons on seven continents<\/em>\u201d was just one of many), followed by attempting to swim from England to France, a climb up Kilimanjaro, Elbrus, Aconcagua, Denali, and Vinson,\u00a0and \u201c<em>the first Portuguese woman to get to the South Pole and to get to Antarctica<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The path to these triumphs was strewn with logistical nightmares, physical exhaustion, and the constant specter of financial strain. But even in the face of these adversities, Maria\u2019s resolve remained steadfast.<\/p>\n<p>Each record she shattered was not just a personal victory but a clarion call for the children of Dhaka\u2014a signal that their plight was seen and their voices heard.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-maria-conceicao-s-undoubtable-ripple-effect\">Maria Concei\u00e7\u00e3o\u2019s Undoubtable Ripple Effect<\/h2>\n<p>\u201c<em>The society I belong from<\/em>,\u201d says\u00a0Shahin Khan, one of the Dhakaiyans Maria helped, \u201c<em>everyone says, \u2018no, no, no, no, no.\u2019 And [Maria\u2019s] like, \u2018yes, yes, yes, yes<\/em>.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her impact is palpable. Children who once saw no path beyond the slum\u2019s confines now dream of careers, of changing their worlds.<\/p>\n<p>It seems like her aspiration to be a \u201cRonaldo\u201d came true. \u201c<em>She\u2019s like a \u2018Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019 to all of us<\/em>,\u201d reflects\u00a0Shoikat, another Dhakaiyan who\u2019s known Maria since 2006. \u201c<em>It\u2019s because of all the hard work that she has done for us and is still doing; she is doing it 24\/7, never resting on any holidays. We see her every day working just for us to have a better future<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Shahin and Shoikat are of the hundreds of lives that Maria has changed. The latest? A group of 22, with the help of friends and advisors to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.justgiving.com\/maria-cristina\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Maria Cristina Foundation<\/a>\u00a0(including several Mindvalley members).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>We talk a lot about this idea of living your most extraordinary life<\/em>,\u201d says\u00a0<strong>Vishen<\/strong>, the founder of Mindvalley. Maria\u2019s, as he points out, is the epitome of what this looks like.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>[There are] very few people in the world who would inspire you by not only saying but also doing with you, sharing the journey with you. The mother of 600 kids, Maria, she has done that. She\u2019s the best woman in the world.<\/p>\n<p><cite>\u2014\u00a0Shahin Khan<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>She\u2019s planted the seeds of change\u2014seeds now sprouting into young adults. \u201c<em>The rewards are outstanding<\/em>,\u201d says Victoria Alcober, a client relationship manager based in Dubai, U.A.E. \u201c<em>To see these young people thrive and get further in life, achieve what they would never dreamed of without Maria\u2019s presence<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>These individuals look to her as a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/role-models\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">role model<\/a>, and consequently, they carry her legacy forward, spreading the message that from little things, big things grow.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CvKU69Sr3Iy\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"\/>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-be-part-of-the-story\">Be Part of the Story<\/h2>\n<p>While her commitment is to the 100 families, Maria\u2019s mission transcends the underprivileged in Dhaka. It\u2019s a catalyst for a broader awakening\u2014one where her work is not an exception but an inspiration for systemic change and to contribute to the greater good.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>I have never met anybody devoted to a goal like Maria is<\/em>,\u201d Victoria adds. \u201c<em>Whether training for the next adventure, pursuing great positions or internships for her students, or breaking a new record, she gives it all!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But beyond the tangible goals lies a deeper aspiration. Her aim? To create a self-sustaining model of empowerment where every success story fuels another, creating a chain reaction of empowerment and progress.<\/p>\n<p>As Vishen points out, the goal is surely to raise funds to help the underprivileged. But it\u2019s also to create more Maria Concei\u00e7\u00e3os.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c<em>The goal is to inspire you guys in some way to just think a little bit beyond goals, visions, accomplishments that might simply benefit you<\/em>,\u201d says Vishen, \u201c<em>but what can you do to create a greater impact on the world<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s the power of Maria\u2019s story. It\u2019s a true reminder of the impact one person can have, of the ripples that a single act of kindness can create, and of the enduring hope that can arise from the most challenging circumstances.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>One of the greatest lessons I got from Maria\u2019s thing is that the Universe will bless you if you\u2019re thinking beyond just yourself. Things will happen.<\/p>\n<p><cite>\u2014 Vishen, founder of Mindvalley<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>If you\u2019d like to contribute to help continue the Maria Cristina Foundation mission and support its transformative work, consider\u00a0<em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.justgiving.com\/maria-cristina\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">donating to the Maria Cristina Foundation<\/a><\/u><\/em>. Your generosity can fuel the cycle of empowerment and change, touching lives in ways that extend far beyond monetary value.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>\u2014<br \/>Photo by Kersti Niglas<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async defer src=\"https:\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/hop.clickbank.net\/?affiliate=infohatch&amp;vendor=J1R2C\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10614 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png\" alt=\"Profit Gen\" width=\"400\" height=\"217\" srcset=\"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px.png 400w, https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/profit-gen400px-300x163.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Some heroes wear capes. Others wear some sort of form-fitting suit.\u00a0Maria Concei\u00e7\u00e3o, on the other hand, wears unassuming belted floral-print flowy maxi dresses. Don\u2019t be [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5370,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5369","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-happiness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5369","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5369"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5369\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5370"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5369"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5369"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5369"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}