According to UNICEF, there are now 2.2 billion children living in the world. Disturbingly,  of those 2.2 billion, every second child (1billion) is growing up in poverty.

But even more disturbing is that of these children in poverty, 121million children worldwide do not have access to basic education.

In many of the places Mercy Teams International is working,  we can certainly put faces to  those child statistics. Children who for numerous reasons, do not attend school or receive an education.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that

"All children have the right to an education" Article 28   and that..

"The purpose of education is to develop every child's personality, talents and mental and physical abilities"  Article 29

Mercy Teams International has found that not only is the poverty cycle a high contributor to childrens absence of education,  but vice-versa, the absence of basic education is in itself, a high contributor to the continuing entrapment of poverty.

That is why MTI believes it is crucial that we partner with local poor communities,  to ensure every child in that community receives a basic education.

One such place where MTI is working is along the Thai-Burma Border in a small village consisting of 500 families, which we shall call  J..W.. Village situated on the Burma side of the Border.

Mercy Teams Educational team is bringing new hope thru Education to Burmese children in this village. (see Project 651 Thai Border Village school) . In 2007 MTI built a village school for 90 Mon and Karen children.  Grades 1 to 5 are currently offered with plans to expand to Grade 6 and 7 in 2011 and 2012.  The school is so popular that children will travel from many miles away, just to attend.   Because of this, MTI has built a Childrens Home to accommodate the Karen children who's families are too poor to send their children elsewhere.  These children return home to their families at the end of each term. During the Term, MTI cares for these children (up to 25)  by feeding them and giving them a home and a House Mum to look after them.

Opportunities exist for Teachers and Educators to be involved.  If you are a Pre-school or a Primary or Secondary School Teacher who feels called to serve in a cross-cultural community, and embracing the poor by serving  disadvantaged children, then there may be a place for you to join Mercy Teams International Education team.

Your role may be to train the local Teachers, who often have never completed High school edcuation themselves.  Or it may be to develop curriculum or to raise the training styles of local Teachers from rote learning to creative methods of teaching.

What better way to serve the suffering poor than thru this most important developmental need.

Mercy Teams International also operates a Pre-school in Cambodia  (See Project 624 Cambodia Village school)  This pre-school allows working mums the opportunity to earn aliving in the rice paddy fields without the worry of knowing if their children are safe.  Before MTI arrived, many toddlers drowned in the rain-filled paddy fields.   Now, women know their children are safe and are even receiving an education which they themsleves never had opportunity for.

MTI has other opportunities around South East Asia where Teachers or those with an interest in educating Children, would be welcome.

If you have a desire to live and serve  cross-culturally,  and have a heart to embrace the suffering poor, then I suggest you contact  our experienced Staff Recruiter  by writing to :   recruiting (at) mercyteams.net  and start a dialogue. .