“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.”
– Audrey Hepburn
The gift of an education is truly an invaluable opportunity. It is an opportunity for prosperity, hope, a sense of purpose, and a better livelihood. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to such an incredible opportunity. In sub-Saharan Africa, 61 million children will not get a primary level education. Our partner Peterson Kasharu in Uganda speaks on the dire situation implied by these statistics:
“There is simply no way to overcome poverty, starvation, and disease without educating the people.”
At the International Children’s Fund, we are fighting to make sure every person has access to an education or skills training. At each of our 15 missions across the world, we have educational initiatives that empower underserved orphans and children with knowledge and a supportive community as they learn. These initiatives meet the people we aid where they are at; we have primary and secondary schools, post-secondary schooling, and technical and skills training. Through our diverse array of opportunities, we hope to provide people with the tools they need to build a better life for themselves and their families.
Our most current educational project is our all-girls college in Monrovia, Liberia. Of the people often discluded from education opportunities, women make up a large percent of the population. Women are second to men in the classroom and their voices are often silenced as it is chosen for them to stay in the domestic sphere. While there is dignity and value in the domestic sphere, we want to give women the opportunity to choose their path and pursue their passions. Our goal is to create a safe space for women to focus on their education and to mitigate the gender gap in education, training, and employment.
The Victory University for Women will serve women from across Africa and allow them to study a variety of subjects in an environment that prioritizes them and their success. Some of these subjects include STEM, Business and Entrepreneurship, Arts and Humanities, Health Sciences, Women Studies, Leadership and Empowerment, Global Studies, Social Sciences, Media and Communications, and Environmental Studies. These courses are designed to provide a comprehensive education that equips women with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to excel in their chosen field and make meaningful contributions to society.
The construction of Victory University for Women began in 2022 and is expected to be completed during 2025. The facility will contain 48 classrooms and a large auditorium along with offices, bathrooms, and other support facilities. The 3rd floor is currently under construction while crews are simultaneously finishing floors 1 and 2. With your support, we hope to complete the construction on schedule and begin classes during 2025.
Victory University for Women
A project of this nature takes countless hours of collaboration, and we have taken an “all hands on deck” approach. Not only are their countless construction workers toiling long hours in hot temperatures, but there are also many young women who are helping. These young women plan to attend the university soon and are working hard to make it a reality.
Regular giving helps us support our missions in their effort to make sustainable improvements in the lives of desperately poor children and their families. We call these donors Hope Ambassadors because they help ICF to provide hope to those who truly face life and death needs around the globe. Please consider becoming a Hope Ambassador. I encourage you to visit our website at www.icfaid.org or call our office at 920-729-5721 to learn about this important program.
Thank you and God Bless,
Dr. David Bruenning
Founder/Int’l Director
Matthew 25: 35-40: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
See children fed, educated, and empowered.
Become a Hope Ambassador
It can be easy to skim past this verse, but the historical context of an “ambassador” brings a wealth of meaning. Such ambassadors or delegates, whether Jewish or Greco-Roman, came with the authority of the sender, in his place, to secure his interests. The reality is, God is making his appeal through us, and wants to secure His very own interests.