Education

Mykal Jones (right) recalls how short Isaac Sakala (center) was when he and wife Traci Jones (left) last saw him 10 years before. The Joneses, who are from Dallas, Texas, supported Sakala’s education from primary school through his graduation at Africa University in Zimbabwe on June 6. Sakala is a beneficiary of the Excel Beyond program run by Family Legacy, a Zambian organization caring for orphans and disadvantaged children and youth. Photo by Eveline Chikwanah, UM News.

From foster care to Africa University grad

A partnership between the United Methodist university and Zambia’s Family Legacy helps orphaned and vulnerable students get their degrees.

Mission and Ministry

A student signs for her classmates as Michael Pius (standing in black shirt), a United Methodist health officer, provides information to Deaf students at Buhongwa Secondary School in Mwanza, Tanzania, in 2021. Part of the Tanzania Conference’s Yatosha Deaf Ministry, the outreach includes spiritual guidance and teaching practical skills that empower Deaf students to live healthier and more fulfilling lives. File photo by Robert Aloyce, UM News.

Deaf ministry advances inclusion in Tanzania

The goals of the United Methodist program are to restore dignity, build confidence and empower parents to understand and communicate with their Deaf children.

Theology and Education

Graduates celebrate their achievements during Africa University’s 32nd commencement ceremony on June 6 in Mutare, Zimbabwe. Members of the class of 2026 hailed from 21 African countries and more than 10% received first-class degrees, the highest academic honor. Photo courtesy of the Africa University Public Affairs Office.

698 students graduate from Africa University

The United Methodist university’s 32nd commencement celebrated students from 21 countries and the first graduates from its online Global Campus.

Instructor Marion McAuley (center facing camera) teaches students how to drive screws with an electric drill at the Women in Construction program in Biloxi, Miss. An initiative of Moore Community House — a National Mission Institution supported by United Women in Faith — the program prepares women for careers in the skilled trades. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.

Program helps women build construction careers

In a job market rife with low-paying hospitality jobs, getting hired as a construction worker offers a path to a better life for women. An innovative Mississippi program, supported by United Women in Faith, helps them get there.

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