Joint Campaign Increases Hope and Safety for Students in Tanzania

Throughout the month of June, supporters from LPGM and Friends of Mwangaza have given to a joint spring campaign to support the transformational, community-centered work of our mutual partner, Mwangaza, in Tanzania. To date, 15 donors have given $6,700 toward the $50,000 goal.



Safe and nurturing learning environments are more important than ever for students like Naitoti, a 15-year-old girl in Tanzania.

Because of overlapping factors like food scarcity and drought, it has become harder and harder for Naitoti to go to school. Her mother suggested that Naitoti get married to support the family, and their relationship has become strained. 

With your support, however, Naitoti has enrolled in a school that provides her a safe and nurturing learning environment. This school is one of many that Mwangaza has helped.

Will you help us fund Mwangaza by month's end?

On behalf of students like Naitoti, thank you for investing in safe schools!

John Anthony Joins LPGM Staff

Please join us in welcoming John Anthony to the LPGM team! John brings a passion for seeing women and girls around the world receive as many educational opportunities as possible.

With 30 years of experience running a small business, John is excited to make sure things continue to run smoothly behind the scenes at LPGM.

John lives in south Minneapolis with his wife, Connie, and dog, Finley. They have 2 grown children, Maylen who lives in Minneapolis and Espen who lives in Moorhead.

Calling all Tamil and French Speakers!

Looking for a way to help us strengthen our global partnerships? We're searching for LPGM supporters with professional working proficiency in French or Tamil who can assist us with occasional written and spoken translation needs.

If interested, you will be added to a roster of volunteers, and we will reach out with specific translation requests as they arise.

To learn more, email office@lutheranpartners.org or call 612.823.5058

LPGM-India Staff Visit Students' Villages During Summer Break

In mid-May, the LPGM-India staff visited boarding home students' home villages to check in on students during their summer break (April-June), collect feedback from their parents, strengthen their relationships with students and their families, and learn more about the students' home lives.

A large percentage of the students' parents are migrant workers who earn daily wages. They leave home early in the morning and return late at night, making child supervision difficult and the boarding homes a crucial support system. Many parents shared that they work tirelessly to earn ₹500 - or less than $6 - a day, and that they do not wish for their children to struggle in the same way.

When LPGM-India staff spoke with students' parents, the parents emphasized the importance of safety and proper food for their children. They also expressed a deep desire for their children to receive quality education in order to secure stable, well-paying jobs. Over and over, LPGM-India staff heard them say that their dream for their children is to gain knowledge, improve their lives, and explore opportunities beyond their village.

While on break this summer, students biked around their villages, swam in ponds, lakes, and wells, visited grandparents and extended family, learned typing skills, helped their mothers with housework, earned wages doing farm work, and watched movies at the beach.

Transcending Language Barriers through Song in Guatemala



By the Rev. Sara Spohr, LPGM board member and traveler

One afternoon at the Community Cloud Forest Conservation (CCFC) Center in Guatemala, my niece Karina (15) and I trekked out into the farm to plant trees with Elida and Deysi, leaders in the Women in Agroecology Leadership for Conservation (WALC) program. There was definitely a language barrier, so the outing began mostly in silence, figuring out how to communicate the logistical needs of the tree planting.  

Eventually we found a rhythm and Elida began to hum a song. Deysi joined in. Karina perked up, because she’s a singer too. Soon, tree planting became secondary to the music and laughter. I was simply a witness to the joy. I happily recorded a video of the moment. The video features Elida, holding one of the tree seedlings like a microphone, and singing with full voice and heart. In the video I can also hear Deysi and Karina laugh and sing. I can hear my own voice asking for more: "mas, mas."

Twenty Years Later: Lessons from my “Holy” Surreal Trip to India



By Petra Vanderford, LPGM board member

As I was sitting in a church pew during an ordinary night of confirmation, someone began passing out half-sheets of paper with an announcement on them. "Looking for youth interested in traveling to India this summer!" I brought the paper home, not really sure why I was interested. My mom responded, "If you feel like this is something that God is calling you to do, we support you. We’ll make it work." 

So, there I was – a shy teenager, signing up to travel half-way across the world for who knows what reason. I mean, I was sure we’d participate in a good amount of manual labor, and I enjoyed helping people in whatever way was needed. But as some may know, a trip like this often impacts you more than any impact you could have on a community.