Permanent Educational Fund Expands Opportunity and Access – Church News

The latest updates have been made to Permanent Educational Fund is a loan program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that helps Church members of all ages obtain education that allows them to find self-employment.

Since 2001, the program has helped approximately 113,000 Latter-day Saints in more than 80 countries.

On Thursday, November 7, the Church announced a program update that will provide more opportunities and make education more accessible.

Improvements include a wider selection of schools and programs, more opportunities to reduce loan balances and support for education-related expenses, the company explained. press release on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

The coverage of PEF loans has now been expanded from covering tuition, fees and books to include other education-related expenses. The addition of this coverage will benefit more participants as they seek further education and gain in-demand skills.

Blaine R. Maxfield, managing director of the Church’s Welfare and Self-Sufficiency Department, said, “We are excited about these changes to the Permanent Education Fund and the greater educational opportunities it will help provide. As participants pursue education, they become more self-reliant and increase their ability to care for those in need.”

self-reliance section on the church website about PEF says that through loan repayments and generous donations, the foundation will continue to lift individuals and families out of poverty and achieve self-sufficiency for decades to come.

Permanent Educational Fund Recipient Stories

Church President Gordon B. Hinckley announced the creation of a Permanent Educational Fund during priesthood session April 2001 General Conference

He first told how, beginning in 1849, a Church-sponsored plan loaned money to early converts to the Church who wanted to go to be with the Saints in the Intermountain West. The loans were made with the understanding that these Church members would find work after arriving and would then repay the loan, allowing the money to be lent to others.

President Hinckley then proposed creating a similar fund for today.

“The proceeds of this fund will provide loans to ambitious young men and women, mostly returned missionaries, so they can borrow money to attend school,” he said at the time. “Then, when they become eligible for employment, they are expected to pay back what they borrowed, along with a small amount of interest designed to encourage repayment of the loan.”

Gideon Owusu Prempeh from Ghana is an example of someone who has been blessed by the program. Prempeh has completed his higher education and is preparing to work in the medical field.

“I am grateful to the Lord and the Church for establishing the Permanent Educational Fund,” he said. “It has helped me in ways I could never have imagined.”

Suani Pacheco from Guatemala also received PEF assistance. At one time, she thought completing her degree would be impossible because of the cost. But then she learned about the foundation at church.

“It was like a blessing, a light at the end of the darkness, a hope that made my heart feel and confirm that Heavenly Father was listening to me and that He knew about my desire to study and graduate,” she said.

Pacheco applied for a PEF loan through her bishop and received financial support for her law degree. She now works as a municipal traffic judge.

Resources for self-reliance

The Permanent Educational Fund is available to Church members 18 years of age and older in approved countries. Those who want to learn more can talk to their ward or stake Welfare and Self-Reliance specialist and visit PEF.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Brazil offers additional support and classes for PEF participants online at: autossuficiencia.org.br/fpe.

The church also provides free self-study classes such as Find a better job And Education for a better job who provide resources and teach skills in a group setting from a gospel perspective. In addition, the Church has free Employment service Resources for everyone, regardless of Church membership, can be found online at employment.churchofjesuschrist.org.