In addition to Thanksgiving, this week was International Girl Effect Week. We've written about this before -- about how powerful even an extra year of education can be for a girl, and the challenges girls face in the developing world.

But it's not just girls -- simply encouraging a child to stay in school, to work hard, to emphasize that you believe in them has tremendous power. For young boys with few positive male role models in their community, your words may have more weight than you know.

Which is why we are so thankful for you. Your support and commitment to changing the life of a child creates a new dynamic for their growth and development. Your prayers give hope and encouragement, and your words proclaiming their worth in your eyes are treasured.

Your sponsored child may not have developed the eloquence to fully express their thanks, so we want to do it for them. THANK YOU. Thank you for the effect you have on the children of the world.

How many teachers had an impact on your life? Do you pray for those who have a direct influence on your sponsored child? Here are some suggestions from someone who's been in the trenches.

Can you believe it's back-to-school time already?

As you prepare your own children for the start of school (or as you begin to see the little ones with their giant backpacks waiting for their bus) say a prayer for your sponsored child.

Their school schedule may be a bit different -- while they do have longer holiday breaks, they may not start their school year in August and September like we do in the U.S. -- but a new school year brings the same anxieties. Will my friends be in my class? Will I have the right supplies? Will I fit in?

This week we'll explore what school can look like in several countries, as well as how a Mission of Mercy project can come alongside a child to help them with their classes and schoolwork.

In the meantime, you tell us: how are you praying for the new school year?

Her hard-working father earns $2 a day.

It is not enough so her mother goes to another country in search of work.

Where does that leave Praveena and her siblings?

It is a predicament many children in the developing world face...

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Today is National Girl Child Day in India, the country where Mission of Mercy first started working to meet the needs of impoverished children. Why is a day set aside for the girl child, and what does that mean?

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Even if a government provides the opportunity to attend school, the child might not ever feel welcome there. Here's why and what we do to help.

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There are many things that keep an impoverished child from gaining an education. Yet is it possible that some of the proposed solutions are actually making it worse?

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The goal of any Mission of Mercy program is to equip children in developing nations to reach their God-given potential. So how does that work in our schools?

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This week we’ve been talking about the importance of education and how we can help. So how is your sponsored child's education supported at the project level?

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We keep talking about how crucial education is for your sponsored child. So how can you encourage them in school when they’re so far away? Here are four tips!

Depending on the country, a project will support a child’s education in various ways. Here’s a peek into the life of a student. Piuma has a personal source of inspiration and motivation for pursuing education, but she needed help along the way…

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Yesterday, Jack Eans (our Vice President of International Child Ministries) wrote about the Mechrey Floating School and the impact it has had on the community. The school goes up to 6th grade – so what happens if a child wants to continue his or her education? Jack wrote if they graduate from the Floating School, there is hope…

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Jack Eans continues his dispatches from Cambodia, where his travels took him to an amazing school that's never in the same place twice.

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How does education change a girl's life? Jennifer could tell you. Statistics could, too...

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Jose is a typical boy from the Dominican Republic. Has his life changed since attending a Mission of Mercy center?

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Sometimes we hear from sponsors who, after seeing their sponsored child’s picture, are concerned that their sponsored child isn’t really poor...  

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Education has routinely been identified as a key factor in the fight against poverty. Without a proper education, children grow up to be adults without the skills they need to generate a sufficient income. As a result these same children will likely be delegated to a life of mere subsistence, much like their parents before them, perpetuating the cycle of deprivation. Click the link below to find out how Mission of Mercy is making a huge impact in this area.

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“For your information, I am 11th grade student. I am preparing myself for the college. I am doing my best. I believe that this is because of your help. I am now in great peace because I receive the great gift who is Jesus the Son of God.” – Tinsae from Ethiopia, in a letter to his sponsor.

“I’m learning a lot in the project but what I like most is to learn about Jesus and the songs we sing to God. I also like the meal they give me.” ­ – Paola from the Dominican Republic, in a letter to her sponsor.

“I am studying hard to be a good student. I want to make you and my family very happy with my school result. There are different cultures in my country, Ethiopia. How is your country? Write me about your country. I love you so much. I respect you very much. May God bless you so much.” 
– Yeshitela from Ethiopia, in a letter to his sponsor. 

“God has a purpose with everything, I now think better than before, I have changed a lot since I’m attending the project.” – Elizabeth from the Dominican Republic, in a letter to her sponsor.

“I participate in spiritual program at Mercy Center every Saturday to listen to the Word of God. I share the Word of God to my family what I hear form the Mercy Center.” – Tarikuwa from Ethiopia, in a letter to her sponsor.

"I didn't pass the grade because I don't like school but in the project the tutor told me that I have to study, to be a professional in the future and I promised her to do my effort to pass the grade and I now will chance because she made me realize what important is to study.  I ask you so much that you pray for I can change and to think about my future please."

-- 10-year-old Julia from the Dominican Republic, in a letter to her sponsor

Everyone has their morning routine, and school children are no exception. Yet children in the developing world have a different set of tasks each day, and their responsibilities belie their age. What you’ll read below is a description of a typical day for a school-aged girl...

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