This Christmas season is the perfect time to hear a story about the gifts of memory, honour, education, community, and partnership, and the difference they have made in the lives of many people.

The road into the community of Munenga in Zambia is long, dry, and unpaved. From the highway, it’s a dusty 12 kilometre drive to the site of a new school. For many children this school will cut their walking distance down to a manageable 3–4 kilometres from 6–8.

This is one of many schools being built by the People’s Action Forum of Zambia, a small organization with big plans to transform rural education into something that every child can access. The organization is well respected, working with the local governments, the department of education, traditional community leaders, and overseas partners like The United Church of Canada to build the elementary schools in underserviced rural areas.

This school in Munenga is being built by the community with money raised from Canada. It’s being built in memory of a young Ottawa lawyer, Iain Beaudoin, who died suddenly at 28. His parents are members of Emmanuel United Church and when his colleagues wanted to create a legacy, the legal community and congregation were matched with this Zambian partner through the church’s General Council Office in Toronto.

Your gifts support mission and service partners like People’s Action Forum and the staff of the General Council Office who can help congregations that want a direct experience of partnership.

Every gift to the church’s mission and service is used wisely and helps transform lives. Please continue to give generously - visit the Mission and Service donation page.