Around the world today, nearly 25 million children are not attending school—a staggering number that reflects not just a crisis in education, but in opportunity, equity and hope. The reasons behind this are complex and varied. In some communities, families cannot afford the cost of tuition, uniforms or basic school supplies. In others, children live in remote areas where the nearest school is miles away, often requiring long and unsafe journeys.

In high-income countries such as Canada, governments spend an average of $8,500 per child each year to support education. This includes everything from teacher salaries to school infrastructure, technology and extracurricular opportunities. In stark contrast, low-income countries often spend as little as $55 per child annually—barely enough to cover the basics, let alone provide high-quality, inclusive education. This gap places high-quality education out of reach for millions of children each year.

Yet in the face of these daunting statistics, something positive is happening that is changing lives, one child at a time.

Across Canada, from the rugged shores of Newfoundland and Labrador to the towering mountains of British Columbia, individuals and Salvation Army church groups are coming together to make a difference through the Brighter Futures Children’s Sponsorship Program, breaking down barriers to education for some of the world’s most vulnerable children and youth.

Today, thanks to the generosity of sponsors and supporters, more than 2,400 students in Salvation Army schools around the world are receiving the support they need to attend school and thrive. But this program is about more than just getting children into classrooms. It’s about equipping them to succeed—academically, emotionally and socially.

The Brighter Futures Children’s Sponsorship Program supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #4: Quality Education. The program provides much more than just tuition fees. It supplies essentials, such as backpacks, school uniforms, desks, textbooks and classroom supplies—even chickens, which help schools start small-scale, income-generating farms. These creative solutions allow schools to become more sustainable by funding teacher salaries, facility maintenance and student meals.

The ripple effect of this support is both wide and deep. In communities where education was once a distant dream, it is now becoming a reality. Parents speak of hope restored. Teachers express deep gratitude for resources that allow them to teach effectively. And students, many of whom will be the first in their family to complete high school, now dare to dream of becoming nurses, engineers, teachers and leaders.

Here’s what some of the students and teachers at Salvation Army schools say:

• “Our hope for a better future has become a reality because of our education.”—Student, John Gowans High School, Liberia
• “You have given us a blessing of education and empowered us to be the best in the world.”—Student, Cotton Research School, Zimbabwe
• “Every drop in the ocean counts.”—Teacher, Kwama Elementary School, Zambia

These are not just words of appreciation. They are testimonies of transformation, evidence of what is possible when people come together with compassion and purpose.

Even in the Bible, we find inspiration in the account of Jesus as a young boy, eager to learn and grow. In Luke 2, we read about him at just 12 years old, sitting among the teachers in the temple courts, “listening to them and asking them questions” (Luke 2:46). Every child, regardless of where they are born, deserves the same opportunity—to be curious, to learn, to ask questions and to be taught by those who care.

This is the vision that drives the Brighter Futures Children’s Sponsorship Program. It is about giving every child the chance to go to school, finish school and dream beyond school. It’s about unlocking the potential of a generation. And it’s about celebrating every milestone, from a child receiving their first backpack to becoming the first graduate in their family.

We invite you to be part of this incredible journey. While we may not be able to change the world overnight, we can change the world for one child. And then another. And another. One child at a time, we are building brighter futures.

To learn more, visit salvationist.ca/brighterfutures.

MAJOR HEATHER MATONDO is the assistant director of the international development department.

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