The women who participate in Bethania Kids Women’s Empowerment Programs (WEPs) face the difficult challenge of intense poverty, often coupled with spousal abuse, abandonment and/or alcoholism.
A Place of Safety and Hope
Through women’s empowerment programs, Bethania Kids offers women with no financial means the opportunity to positively change the lives of their families and the chance to learn skills they can use to work in the textile industry or to create a business of their own from home. Many bring their children to the local Bethania Kids care center for safe and nurturing care while they learn.
In addition to vocational training, the women share their stories and receive emotional support from staff and other participants, gaining the benefit of counseling and guidance as they work through the many life challenges they face. Coming from different faith traditions, the women also learn of God’s love for them and their families. As participants begin to earn income, they gain self-confidence, a new sense of independence, and heightened respect from their families and their communities alike.
Important Skills Training
Participants are selected on the basis of dire family circumstances and financial need. The two-year program includes instruction in:
- Sewing basics
- Embroidery stitching
- How to use a sewing machine
- How to cut fabrics and other materials
- Sew various types of clothing
- Basket-weaving
- Knitting
Several women have bought their own sewing machines (a 3-4 year investment) and now earn their living as tailors in their communities. Bethania Kids shipped 35 new sewing machines to India in late 2018 for use at our WEP sites.
Mabel’s Women’s Empowerment Program, our first such program, was opened in 2003. Our newest women’s empowerment site is the Annapoorani Women’s Tailoring and Embroidery Centre, opened in the spring of 2020 at Kannivadi, the site of our Dayavu Home for Boys. The new center is the result of generous gifts from Rajesh Subramaniam, CEO of California-based EmbedUR, and Elizabeth and Kraig Olejniczak, long-time donors and members of our Board of Advisors. We are grateful for their contributions to bright futures for many women in the Kannivadi community!
Hold the Hand of a Child in Need
There are countless ways to participate in this vibrant ministry and share God’s love with the children at Bethania Kids.