This is the story of a teacher's work in a preschool in South Africa, where millions of children still live in poverty, deprivation and violence. Dolores attempts to help her students to overcome educational disadvantages ensuing from generations of discrimination. She emerges as a courageous and feisty character whose personal philosophy of life makes her a charming and effective agent for change within her school. She is forced to search deep within herself to find the strength to carry on working in the township when events shatter her belief in her ability to change the lives of her students.