Back to School!

Today, the Tuesday after Labor Day, marks the first day of school for many children across the country.  While some children began classes weeks ago, the first day of school excitement is the same no matter when the day falls. New supplies, new clothes, new teachers, new classmates, new beginnings, new possibilities.  Students gather at bus stops with expectations for what this year will hold and first day of school photos bombard social media networks.

In our country, it is assumed that children will attend school and have the opportunity of education.  But this privilege is not universal as currently 59 million children around the world don’t attend primary school – and hundreds of millions are receiving a sub-par education. Join us today to help turn this statistic around and allow all children to experience the first day of school excitement and the opportunity to reach their full potential through a quality education.

What can I do to help?

Become a sponsor – There is a new, urgent need for child sponsorships. A territory which has been a large contributor to the child sponsorship program has had to cease due to new tax restrictions in its country. This has caused a financial crisis for the 26 territories it was sponsoring.

With others, the USA Central Territory wants to stand in the gap and provide temporary financial support until new permanent sources of income and sustainability are found. We hope you’ll join us.

“Our children’s homes are totally run through sponsorship funds…We shall not be able to meet their education. Feeding them will be a problem, and this may cause these homes to be closed,” wrote the Kenya East Territory.

The Kenya West Territory indicates the most affected will be girls and children with disabilities whose one opportunity for an education has been provided through child sponsorships. It anticipates children, who currently board at an educational facility because their home life is not acceptable or safe or because they are stigmatized due to their disability, will have to return home.

The Zambia Territory worries many students will have to drop out of school because most families can’t afford to send them without assistance. They anticipate an increase in illiteracy in these communities.

You can make a difference. Would you make a one-time donation or become a regular sponsor (just $25 a month) to help bridge the gap? Send a check or money order for any amount or your request to become a sponsor to: Sponsorship Office, The Salvation Army, 10 W. Algonquin Rd., Des Plaines, IL 60016, or e-mail us at missions@usc.salvationarmy.org. You can also visit our website (www.centralmissions.org) to donate online. Specify: Emergency Sponsorship Gap.

Sign the Up For School petition – In 2000, as a part of the Millennium Development Goals, world leaders committed that by 2015 children everywhere, boys and girls, would be able to complete a full course of primary schooling.  However, as the deadline for this goal approaches there are still millions of children who are not in school today and others who receive a poor education.  The Salvation Army has joined with millions around the world to sign the Up for School petition calling for world leaders to stick to their commitment that every child has the right to attend primary school and receive a good education.  There is still time to sign the petition at: https://www.aworldatschool.org/upforschool.