I love Valentine’s Day. I love having a whole day set aside to reach out to the people that I care about (friends, family, colleagues, and, yes, YOU…) to let them know that I love them, that they’re valued, and that they make the world a better place.  

You are seriously making the world a better place! Thank you!

My favorite Valentine’s Day memories come from elementary school. Picking out the perfect cards for my classmates and handing them out at the end of the school day are still sweet moments I cherish. 

These memories lead me to dwell on the conditions of students around the world. I think about the 70% of school-age children in South Sudan who are not receiving an education.

Children who do not have access to education and the support it offers are at an increased risk of exploitation and human trafficking.

We’ve adopted Valentine’s Day as the International Day of LUV because we believe God’s compassionate and extravagant love continually transforms the world.  

We also believe this compassionate love is invitational and participatory — genuine love is an action that pours itself out for the betterment of others.

Because of your generosity, steadfast trust, and unswerving hope in a God who makes all things possible, hundreds of children are receiving the protection, education, and healing they need to thrive as change agents in their communities.

In 2021, your genuine love equipped us to offer trafficking prevention by supporting 30 elementary education classes for 1,184 preschool-8th grade students and 12 high school classes for 255 students. 

With your help, we want to do even more.

Will you join me in reclaiming Valentine’s Day and giving vulnerable children the gift of compassionate love this month?

Here are three ways you can put your love in action for those who need it most of all: 

  1. Share inspiration: I had the honor of sharing a special Valentine’s Sunday message at St Thomas’ in Birmingham, AL. Click here to listen to the sermon podcast and, if inspired, share the link with your friends.
  2. Send an e-Valentine! Donate in a loved one’s honor today, and we’ll email them an e-Valentine naming the impact your gift is making for vulnerable children and women in warzones.
  3. Start a fundraiser and invite your friends to impact lives! You’ll help us meet our Month of LUV goal to raise $25,000, which will fund one elementary school class*. There’s still time, it’s so simple, and we’re here to help! 

Happy LUV Day! Thank you for partnering with us to uplift children and women in warzones. 

 

You’re helping make the world a better and more hopeful place.

Audrey Moore

Chief Executive Officer

 

*Funding a class provides: two classroom teacher salaries for the year plus additional school support (principal, guards, school cooks, and admin); two nutritious meals a day for an entire class for the year; uniforms made by local tailors; school clinic support plus medicines; books, stationery, and other school supplies. If you’d like to learn more about our education trafficking prevention program and are interested in funding a class personally or through your business, please contact me today for more information!