Unlocking the Gifts of Education and Opportunity

As we prepare for the beginning of Catholic Schools Week, Deacon Jim Parrilli explains how education opens doors for children sponsored through Unbound.

“Education is the key that unlocks the golden door to freedom.” (George Washington Carver)

As God’s children, we are grateful that one of the many blessings he has bestowed on us is our ability to gain knowledge piece by piece, through listening, reading, writing and other ways to learn. Within our wonderment of a brain we “catalog” these new ideas, thoughts and experiences into our memory. There they are ready to be built upon, making connections and knowledge grow.

Unlike our bodies that stop growing at a certain point, gaining knowledge never stops. And the best part of knowledge is that it can never be taken away.

Bob Hentzen, one of Unbound’s co-founders, had gone to Guatemala as a young man to educate the poor and marginalized. But Bob received an education of his own when he discovered that, while the desire for education was already within the people, what they lacked was opportunity. They needed the barriers to education lifted, things like the lack of money for tuition, fees, uniforms, and books.

Today, every child sponsored through Unbound receives an education. With their children in school, the moms of these children come together to support one another on this new path to opportunity. They share ideas and ways to save money, raise families and navigate the changing world around them. These groups started organically and now make a positive impact within their entire community.

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When Evelyn (pictured above) received word that she would be sponsored through Unbound, she was 9 years old and had been working with her family to gather firewood so they could afford to feed their family of six. Now also a scholarship holder, Evelyn is a top student in her school in Guatemala and is on a path to becoming an accountant.

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The best part of knowledge is that it can never be taken away. #CatholicMom

At this time of year, two large international entities recognize the importance of education. The United Nations celebrates January 24 as International Day of Education, and the Church celebrates and promotes Catholic Schools Week from January 29 to February 4.

“All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Please pray with Unbound:

Dear loving and gracious Lord, you have equipped us for every good work, and you are constantly training us in righteousness. Guide us, Lord, to use these gifts in solidarity with our brothers and sisters both near and far, so as to support the individual dignity you bestowed upon each of us. Amen.

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