"For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you." Psalm 26:3 | |
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Pictured Above: 7th and 8th grade students from Siloam Boarding Home frolic in the Bay of Bengal! On October 12, 65 students went on a field trip to Pondicherry, visiting the Dr. Abdul Kalam Science Center & Planetarium and Pondy Marina Beach.
Your support of Project Education India (PEI), through sponsorships and general program gifts, makes enriching educational trips like this possible! Students witness the beauty of God's creation, experience meaningful hands-on learning, and make memories that will last a lifetime.
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September's "Extreme Weather" Match Results Are In
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Early September, we shared the stories of Nanyori in Tanzania and Yolotli in Guatemala, two girls who are accessing education despite climate-related challenges.
Our request resulted in 53 of you making donations totaling $25,878, which was matched $25,000, thanks to two former students of LPGM founder Gordon Olson, their spouses, and their parents. Thank you!
Your generosity is not only shaping individual lives, but also rippling out to impact families, communities, and the world at large.
Learn More
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Mkwasa and Marire Secondary School Students Attend Peace Club Summit | |
Four times per year, Mwangaza Peace Club students gather with other schools to celebrate non-violence. These gatherings, called Peace Club Summits, are a time for students to showcase what they have been learning in their Peace Clubs through song, dance and skits.
On September 28, students from Mkwasa and Marire Secondary Schools in the Hai District gathered for a Peace Club Summit. Students demonstrated the importance of self-love as a pathway to peace.
As one student shared, "When we understand and embrace our own worth, we create a ripple effect of compassion and harmony around us."
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CCMC Elections Bring Excitement to Boarding Homes | |
Child Centered Management Committees (CCMC) at Arcot Lutheran Church boarding homes promote leadership within the student body. Similar to student councils in the United States, elected leaders advocate for students' needs and help maintain order within the boarding homes.
Each CCMC has a president, vice president, and special departments such as Education, Food, Health and Hygiene, Eco-Gardening, Spiritual Department, and Library.
In the most recent election at Melpattambakkam, Anisha was selected as president and Janani was selected as vice president. The new leaders will follow up with their classmates to see how they can support them.
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Eripoto Provides Support for Maasai Boy | |
Saibulu has experienced much adversity in his 15 years of life. After losing both of his parents, he sustained a serious back injury that left him with a physical disability. His uncles became his guardians, but they wouldn't send him to school. He ran away to a government school, but he had nowhere to go during school breaks. In spite of his struggles, he thrived in school and earned excellent grades. Forced to be resourceful, he found a number of temporary housing solutions, but they were never sustainable.
Finally, he met Esuvat, the founder of our partner Eripoto, and begged for work to pay for school. Esuvat agreed to let him stay in her living room when the Eripoto girls are away at school. Eripoto's safe house is only for girls, but many boys like Saibulu also need support. This is why Eripoto is currently expanding their facilities and services to accommodate more people in need.
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Literacy Program Improves Quality of Life of Women & Girls in the Central African Republic (CAR) | |
During a pivotal meeting in 2018, women leaders from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic (ELC-CAR) emphasized that women’s literacy was a top priority. They believed prioritizing literacy for women and girls would enhance their quality of life by creating income-generating opportunities and by promoting dignity.
This discussion led to a literacy program pilot project for 80 women and girls in the cities of Bouar, Gallo, and Baboua. The one-year pilot started this year, and our contact Jean Paul recently reported, “I am very impressed by the dynamism and motivation of the young girls and women.” He also expressed that while participants mourn their missed opportunity to learn to read at a young age, they are determined to make up for lost time.
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Planning for Women in
Agroecology for Leadership Conservation (WALC) Session is in Full Swing
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Community Cloud Forest Conservation, our partner in the Central Highlands of Guatemala, is preparing for this year’s WALC session, to be held November 24 - December 8. The WALC leadership team is promoting the program in 36 villages where most girls drop out of school after sixth grade.
Your support of WALC scholarships - just $275 per girl - keeps girls in school, breaks cycles of poverty, promotes sustainable farming methods, and helps entire villages thrive.
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Medical Camp Takes Place at Kalrayan Hills Boarding Home | |
A comprehensive medical camp was held on October 19 in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Leprosy Mission (TLM). More than 250 students participated in the camp, receiving eye check-ups, skin examinations, and general health assessments.
TLM provided medication and treatment for any minor health issues, and they referred students for further treatment when needed.
This medical care is made possible by friends like you!
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Maximize Your Impact with Non-Cash Assets | |
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In this season of thanksgiving, we at LPGM and our partners are very grateful for the faithful support of friends like you over the past 30 years.
While cash donations (gifts made by checks or credit cards) are always appreciated, there are some alternative ways to give, which may provide you with additional financial benefits while allowing us to meet the growing needs of students.
Here are just a few non-cash options to consider:
- Donating stocks or other appreciated assets can offer significant tax advantages.
- If you are 70½ years old or older, you can make tax-free donations directly from your Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
- A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) allows you to contribute cash, securities, or other assets to a charitable organization like LPGM and become eligible for an immediate tax deduction.
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October 8
Beyond the Mission Trip Event Prompts Meaningful Dialogue
Local congregational leaders gathered at LPGM's office to discuss the role of global connections and international travel in congregational ministry. LPGM's executive director, Dan Ruth, facilitated the fruitful discussion. Transformational travel continues to play a key role in LPGM's mission to walk alongside our global partners while allowing people to deepen their faith and their relationships with each other.
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November 1
Registration Deadline to Travel to India in February
Travel with LPGM to India from February 3-18, 2025.
During the trip, you will share God’s love with your global neighbors, visit ALC boarding homes and meet your sponsored student(s), engage in interfaith dialogue, experience the sights and sounds of India, and reflect on your experience with your fellow travelers.
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November 2
Purchase Eripoto Handicrafts at The World Jubilee
The World Jubilee has hosted a biannual fair-trade arts and crafts sale in the Twin Cities since 1979. The next sale will be at Meetinghouse Church in Edina on Saturday, November 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. LPGM will be selling handicrafts created by the girls finding refuge at LPGM partner Eripoto's safe house in Tanzania. All proceeds will help these survivors of harmful cultural practices access education.
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From the LPGM Archives... | |
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Our Mission: LPGM provides access to quality education for people at the margins – especially women and girls. We work together with global partners to listen, respond and bear witness to local needs and priorities.
Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 41-1818525. Your donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
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