Our lives are filled with a bunch of worthless noise. Celebrity happenings, shows to binge, funny cat videos (admittedly, some of those do have value … depending on who you ask). We’re keenly aware that you don’t need more clutter in your digital lives. Some might admit that the clutter Compassion adds is more valuable than other clutter because it’s for a good cause — #kingdomclutter — but ultimately it all competes for your time and attention.

So what should we do when we come across a news story that we think you should read? Or a quote to inspire you? Or a photo you just have to see? How do we share those because we think they’re totally worth it?

That’s where this new series comes in.

“Totally Worth It” is our latest Compassion Blog series that is jam packed with stuff we think is totally worth knowing about. We want to help ignite your compassion for kids, those living in poverty and the Church around the world. We’ll start doing this on a monthly basis but we’re withholding the right to amp up the frequency if you think Totally Worth It is, well, totally worth it.

With that said, welcome to the new series. We hope you enjoy it.

10% of Kids Around the World Don’t Go to School…Wait. What?!

Recently, UNESCO reported some 263 million children worldwide don’t go to school. That’s about one in 10 children! But it’s not all bad news. In 2000, 374 million children didn’t attend school. Which means there’s good work being done!

Why This is Worth It: A child’s grey matter is one of their sharpest weapons to break the cycle of poverty. That’s why youths registered in our centers are required to attend primary school and are encouraged – even assisted – to continue through secondary school. And when they stop attending, we notice. Our staff works with students and their caregivers to stress the importance of education and get them back at their desks. Based on the student’s needs, your regular sponsorship funds and other interventions can provide top-up fees (covering the difference between what the local government provides and the actual cost of attendance), uniforms, books, computers, libraries and specialized vocational training.

Dear Maps, In the Words of Jimmy Fallon: YOU LIE

When we saw this fun video showing the actual sizes of countries, our 9-year-old cartographer hearts broke. We trusted you, Maps! That Brazil illustration shocked us the most. Next you know, those raised relief maps — the ones you endlessly ran your finger across when you were in elementary school — will be declared as phony as well.

Why This Is Worth It: What we love most about this video is how it better helps us keep a global perspective on things — and specifically the globe itself. It is a small (or large) world after all.

Can African Farmers Feed the World?

The U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says global food production will have to increase by 70 percent in order to feed a projected global population of 10 billion people in 2050. That’s a lot more food for a lot more people. And Africa has a lot of land that is uncultivated and ready for farming.

Why This Is Worth It: Because of you, we have already helped train and equip thousands of youths and their parents in greenhouse farming, small-scale family farming, irrigation techniques, raising animals, and even establishing fish farms through targeted interventions. In the last 12 months, nearly two dozen income-generation interventions were funded to provide opportunities for families to raise crops, livestock and, in a few cases, learn beekeeping. High-five for helping us fight food insecurity!

1. 10 Prayers of Children That Will Melt Your Heart
   When kids pray for other kids, we get a little misty-eyed (and inspired to pray more too!).
2. Responding to Child Trafficking
   When 33 percent of trafficking victims worldwide are children, we need to respond.
3. How to Encourage A+ Excellence in Your Letters
   What can you say to the children you sponsor to encourage them in their studies?

Here’s where the Compassion Experience is headed in September. And this is just in the first two weeks. See the entire Experience schedule.

• Miami, Fla.
• Seattle, Wash.
• Mobile, Ala.
• Baton Rouge, La.
• Dallas, Texas
• Charlotte, N.C.

So was this totally worth knowing? What else do you think might be totally worth it?

We want to know what you want to know! Leave a comment below!