Dear Friend,
A few months ago, my husband and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. As Valentine’s Day is upon us and I reflect upon two decades of marriage, it’s hard to believe how this one relationship has impacted almost all areas of my life: spiritually, financially, professionally, and socially. I will be the first to admit, while our marriage is far, far, far from perfect, it has been one of God’s greatest blessings in my life. (Was that too many fars?)
Marriage has the power to nurture flourishing — or to deepen hardship. In the communities where Five Talents works, that reality is stark. Eight of the 10 countries that hold the highest child marriage rates are in Sub-Saharan Africa, where families living under the oppressive weight of extreme poverty often face heartbreaking choices. Some feel compelled to marry their daughters early to reduce household expenses in having one less mouth to feed or to receive much-needed bride payments such as livestock or cash that may mean survival in fragile rural economies.
Yet we know that early marriage is closely tied to lack of education. When girls cannot access schooling, their vulnerability increases. Poverty limits opportunity and early marriage often compounds it — restricting education, reducing earning potential, and perpetuating cycles of hardship.
You often hear us celebrate our Savings Group participants who become literate and numerate through our programs. These milestones are not merely academic achievements; they are life-changing safeguards. Education strengthens women’s voices within their households and deepens their faith in being able to read the Bible, while financial resilience eases the economic pressures that drive desperate decisions. All these contribute to stronger marriages.
Simoni, a participant from Burundi, shared this beautiful testimony: “In the household, women have a voice and they are doing better… Husband and wife now can complement each other in the household.”
This Valentine’s Day, as we celebrate love, thank you for helping men and women build healthier marriages that lead to stronger families. Because of your generosity, children are blessed with the chance to grow, learn, and choose a different path.
Your partnership has made all the difference in someone’s life.
