Hi Dana, 
Have you considered finding role models from their own background? If there are contemporary or important people from the past who pursued education it may be one way to stimulate their motivation. 
emma

Emma Bourassa
English as a Second or Additional Language/ Teaching English as a Second Language Instructor
ESAL Department
Thompson Rivers University
900 McGill Road. P.O. Box 3010
Kamloops, B.C. V2C 5N3
(250) 371-5895
fax 371-5514
ebourassa at tru.ca