Many of the women who come to the Mannavanur Women’s Empowerment Program face the difficult challenge of extreme poverty, often coupled with abandonment, abuse and spousal alcoholism. Abused emotionally and physically, the women are traumatized, stressed and have little self-esteem.
The Program Elements
Bethania Kids’ Mannavanur Women’s Empowerment Program embraces these women and provides them refuge and help. Through the loving care of the staff, they are given support, encouragement and hope for improved futures. By learning how to sew, embroider and weave, the women become wage earners, which changes their status within their families. In the Indian culture, the wife moves in with the husband’s family and often becomes subservient to the husband and mother-in-law. With the prospect of earning some income and the confidence gained at a Bethania Kids women’s empowerment center, her family status is improved.
Mannavanur village is an agrarian area outside of Kodaikanal. Most people work in the fields, and many of the people at Mannavanur are day laborers picking up piece work when they can. The village has a strongly Hindu culture, and our center is next to a Hindu temple, in a valley surrounded with terraced gardens and agricultural fields. The village is very poor, and a high incidence of spousal abuse (husbands that advocate suicide for their wives) exists. The women’s empowerment program serves as a refuge for many of these women who seek help. Learning to sew and produce marketable products gives new life and hope to these women as they seek to bring value to their lives. This program is housed in a building owned by a local charity group. While learning a vocation at the center, their children often attend the nearby Mannavanur Day Care Center.
The Staff
Meet Jeyachandra. G, the leader of the women’s empowerment program in Mannavanur. In the second floor room, you will find sewing machines working as 15-20 women learn to stitch, embroider and weave. Some start with limited skills and over the two-year program increase their knowledge, eventually earning needed income for their families. For many visitors this center is their favorite. Jeyachandra’s vocational training program gives women needed skills and prepares them for a better life.
R Murugeswari was one of the women who participated in the WEP. She now works for Bethania Kids directing a special needs program. Murugeswari has become an integral part of the staff and now serves God’s differently-abled children in the village of Poombarai.
The Program’s History
Bethania Kids Poombarai Women’s Empowerment Program started as an offshoot of the Mabel’s Care Center WEP in 2002. Over the years, the program matured, and the program is now located in Mannavanur.
How Can You Support the Mannavanur WEP?
- Churches or individuals can make gifts to cover the monthly or annual expenses of the WEP in Maanavanur, which is economically run.
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