Children’s nurture and well-being have always been concerns of Presbyterian Women, but especially now, since the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has launched the Educate a Child campaign to strengthen quality education for a million children in the United States and around the world by 2020. Presbyterian Women Churchwide is making children’s education a focus for the 2015–2018 triennium, partnering with the PC(USA) in its Educate a Child initiative.
Because many justice and peace issues—poverty, discrimination, abuse, violence, exploitation, imprisonment, unequal access to opportunity—are related to lack of education, supporting education for all children will improve lives in untold ways.
Together in Action for Education
Presbyterian Women holds Together in Action Days around the issue of children’s literacy in May, during Children’s Book Week. Presbyterian Women in the Congregation, Presbytery and Synod groups support local or regional education and literacy programs. In addition to these, PW groups may choose to support the PC(USA)’s work for Educate a Child, or sign up for the initiative.
Consider these ideas for your PW group’s work for education:
• Community book sale—sell used books at low cost for families with limited budgets.
• Community Story Hour—host it at your church and read aloud to children of the community.
• Book drive—donate books to hospitals, schools, community centers and more.
Or download the Educate a Child toolkit, which has congregational assessment tips, strategies for school board advocacy and much more.
Whether your work to promote literacy happens in May, October or year round, your work for education will help change the world.