With a WDP grant, CACHA (Canada Africa Community Health Alliance) was able to work with Volunteers for Mission in Childcare (VMC) on Idjwi Island in DR Congo, to provide clothing to vulnerable Congolese children living on Idjwi Island and to provide women an opportunity to increase earnings as seamstresses living in Goma.

The ten participants from the Women’s Training Centre (TWTC) who measured and sewed the clothing for the children and were paid a per item remuneration.

The mothers of the fifty children who received clothing offered their prayers to WICC as they saw their children dressed in new clothing and attending school.

The women have empowered each other and have an increased sense of self confidence and self- reliance. Canada Africa Community Health Alliance (Canada) / Volunteers for Mission in Childcare (VMC) DR Congo has also  started a micro-finance program where women can borrow to invest in their businesses and grow their earnings.

Using a needs assessment, 52 women in Chilumba, Malawi were identified as people who would benefit from an introductory farming program.  Before 26 of these women received two goats each, the women were educated in feeding these animals, disease control, breeding, building carrels, and record keeping.  When available, another 26 women will receive offspring from the original goat herd to begin new farming operations.

A WDP grant paid for the livestock and training costs.

The primary mandate of Change Her World – Chilumba is the empowerment of girls and women through education. Barriers which hinder or prevent girls from regular school attendance and success are addressed. Women are provided with training in animal husbandry to further support their economic future and nutritional needs. Committees are all headed by women and they operate with approximately 80 volunteers, a paid office person as well as 2 paid nursery schoolteachers.

Top picture is Jaji in her field

The Deccan Development Society (DDS) is a grassroots organization working with women’s groups in about seventy-five villages in Telangana State, India. The 5,000 women members of DDS have developed community-based food sovereignty systems based on local knowledge, including grain and seed banks. The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc in India. The lockdowns forced millions of workers to leave cities for the countryside. This unprecedented movement of people created huge demands on already poor rural households. In the villages where Inter Pares’ counterpart Deccan Development Society works, this demand was met with solidarity. The 5000-strong women’s association collected 20,000 kilos of grain to feed hungry migrants. A WDP grant helped DDS support 20 other villages in the area to bolster their food security through capacity building.

Over the year, farmer training on millet-based agriculture, polyculture, and production of local compost and organic fertilizers, was provided to a total of 144 farmers in two villages (Upparpalli thanda, Jamgari thanda) in Telangana and Tamil Nadu. This translated into an additional 144 acres of land under biodiverse and climate resilient agriculture.

It also improved the skills of women farmers to adopt climate-resilient and nutritious farming practices.

Jaji Bai Upparpalli Tanda, a WDP grant participant,  was recognized during the annual Mobile Biodiversity Festival for her work to preserve local seed varieties. Jaji Bai uses agroecological practices that rely on a high degree of biodiversity and the use of local organic inputs. She does not use foreign seeds or chemical fertilizers or pesticides. She is currently cultivating her plot of land that includes 21 varieties of crops, and is maintaining this diversity of seeds thanks to her own seed bank. Her skills have enabled her to ensure her family’s food security and health, while also sharing her surplus produce to those in need in her village.

Centre Vie – CEVIM has been raising 36 children rescued from the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. The centre is providing them with shelter, education and community living skills to save them from all types of exploitation (slavery, trafficking) or being homeless.  CEVIM is also providing education opportunity to young girls in the entire Lalouere Community.

To provide, and keep, a sanitary environment for the children and adults living in the CEVIM homes, while reinforcing COVID 19, cholera, and other communicable diseases prevention measures, a WDP grant helped fund a sanitary block consisting of a set of latrines with 4 compartments that included hand washing.

ANTA is a grass roots organization that advocates nationally for the rural poor, the farm workers, the landless, the peasant farmers and former cambatants’ families of the Salvadoran civil war. ANTA has alliances with an international peasant group (Via Campesina) to promote knowledge of agro ecology, eco stoves, rural enterprise and improve literacy. ANTA organizes their grass roots members to defend the land rights of the peasant farmers, workers’ rights and human rights (such as water rights).

A WDP grant helped a group of 19 rural women living in Sisisguayo Canton, Usulutan in El Salvador to (1) know their rights, to be aware of how to address gender based violence in their homes and in their community and (2) to have a source of income and food for their family with a small agriculture project. (The anti-violence component of the project was expanded as planned to include men, women and youth in the community at local “town fairs” and markets.)

The project provided the 19 women with business training and a small enterprise for family food production and small local sales (in local neighbourhoods and markets).

The Midwife Training Program provided midwives in rural Guatemala with the skills and tools needed to be able to effectively manage high-risk pregnancies.

In 2020, funding was secured for Phase 1 of this program to train 42 midwives in Chimaltenango. With a WDP grant, another 41 midwives from Sacatepéquez were trained over 5 months in 2021. During that same year, 131 pregnant women were referred to a health care centre by midwives in Chimaltenango.

International Needs Canada is a Christian charitable organization with a global network of more than 30 partner countries around the world. They focus primarily on the development and empowerment of vulnerable children, youth, and women through health and wellness, education, and skills training, and spiritual nourishment.

While International Needs Canada and Rotary International helped to fund this program, it is run directly by UNAPER, a registered association of physicians whose goal is to deliver a permanent solution to the systemic problem of maternal and newborn mortality in Guatemala.

1. Economic empowerment of women – Anglican Church Women Mothers
2. Trauma counselling – Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Union
3. Training of trainers for unemployed women in rural areas –
4. Women and disaster recovery focusing on agricultural tools – Apostolic Church Women
5. Capacity Building on Leadership Development of Young People- Churches of Christ Vanuatu Christian Women’s Fellowship
6. Women in Decision Making – Building Capacity – Catholic Church
7. Widows’ capacity building – Catholic Church
8. Live more abundantly – combatting lifestyle disease – Seventh Adventist Church

Twelve women and children were supported over a ten month period at Colton’s Place, a one unit emergency shelter for women fleeing domestic abuse.

Colton’s Place is a collaborative effort between the Salvation Army, The Town of Drumheller, Drumheller Housing Authority, Big Country Anti-Violence Association and the RCMP.

A $3,000 WDP grant was used to help create a residential unit that felt safe and protected.  Purchased items included a crib, dresser, stroller, change table supplies, hooded towels for babies and a new oven.

A WDP grant helped Sonshine Community Service fund virtual experiential therapy opportunities for 80 individuals living in a residential shelter for women who had left abusive situations.  Activities such as creating terrariums and painted signs gave the clients time to relax and engage with other women, albeit virtually, in a non-judgemental, friendly, and relaxed environment that nurtured connections.

Sonshine Community Services has played a leadership role in the domestic violence sector in Alberta for 43 years, providing multiple services to the Calgary community. The women they serve have been victims of severe abuse and some experience PTSD.

The healing from the experiential therapy program went beyond “talk therapy” and reflected neuroscientific research results. Experiential Therapeutic Groups intend to support clients in accessing and healing the trauma rooted in the right brain and cut off from conscious mind.

Feedback from the women included:

It was nice to know I am not alone and there are other people going through the same thing I am going through.

 The group filled my cup and helped my mental health.

 I feel gratified and accomplished.

Upper picture explanation: A woman statue with purple lights (part of our décor) symbolizing the freedom and wholeheartedness we hope all the participants of When Love Hurts support groups find in their journey to wellness.

Lower painting is by a participant

The Mennonite Central Committee of British Columbia provides individual and group support for women who have had or are experiencing violence from their intimate partners. The When Love Hurts women’s program is a large part of the End Abuse local work. While all of the participants contribute financially to the group, a WDP grant helped make it more attainable.

Nine women attended When Love Hurts, Phase 4. They met face to face or by Zoom when they were unwell and not able to attend in person. This was appreciated during heightened COVID concerns.

The group activities (meditative times of learning, music participation, drawing/colouring/writing during and after facilitated learning times, deep soul sharing activities as women are able to connect) required attention to their bodies and deep feelings, past hurts and wrongs, reviewing and reframing beliefs, learning to see and acknowledge biases, and considering new ways of seeing themselves, others, and life itself.  Women became courageous.

“To believe in oneself again feels uplifting,

enlightening and refreshing.

It encourages us forward with faith.

It jolts us back to our innocence.

a time before injustices, betrayals, and abuses.

A time when everyone and everything around us was good.

Again, we venture out into the world

with our hearts bearing our scars

and our heads hopeful

for love and acceptance.

Poem by Barb

Phase 4 2022

Talitha Koum Society (TK) is a non-profit organization empowering woman with addictions to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. This is done by providing a home, a nurturing community, 12-step programming, and life-skills training. Since 1999, TK has operated intimate residential homes for women (and their children up to six years old) recovering from addiction.

After step seven (7) of the 12-step program, TK assists women in finding employment and/or education.

A WDP grant helped the Talitha Koum Society establish a computer lab in their two residences so women could complete job/education searches, learn to use basic software like Microsoft Office, gain keyboarding skills, build their resumes; prepare their own income-tax forms, access government-related facilities online, pay bills, and build independence as they navigated in the cyber world.

Testimonial from a participant: TK embraced me with love and  kindness and started to teach me how to live a life without the of use drugs. It gave me daily structure , routine and loving discipline and I started to face my past and realized that my past did not have to define me.

It gave me a strong faith in God and I came to understand that because God is with me I am never alone and can face anything that comes my way.

With hard work and support I began to heal and build confidence. I pushed past fear with the help provided at TK. I learned how to create an appealing resume, and in late December I enrolled in college at VCC and am currently studying addiction counselling. I am grateful that there is a computer room where I can go to access my course readings on a computer screen, rather than on my phone.   I will also be taking my yoga instructors certification.

 I chose to be baptized while in the first stage program and I just had the honour of being asked to be on the clergy board at St. Laurence Church. I now help other woman suffering from addiction and my hopes are to work in the field.

Dignity House (DH) is a safe, non-profit house that provides support for women transitioning from complex trauma of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, violence, and substance abuse through holistic approaches incorporating spiritual, emotional, educational, physical, and social means while helping them find hope, faith, love and dignity. Long term stays are offered.

Eight women met biweekly in a program – Doors of Hope – designed to help them maintain sobriety.  This aftercare program for addicts is based on Hosea, 2:15, “I will give back her vineyards and transform her trouble to a door of hope and she shall sing as in the days of her youth.”

 The women saw this program as a lifeline which allowed them to grow spiritually, emotionally, physically and socially.

 A WDP grant helped pay for resources and supportive measures for this program.

The Elora House’s Mission is to provide a safe-haven in the Guelph/Wellington County area for individuals identifying as women (ages 16 and up) exploited by sex trafficking. Elora House provides immediate short-term lodging, food, clothing and support.

A WDP grant provided training for staff at Elora House in preparation for delivery of the MUSE Project. The MUSE Project helps in individualized recovery by combining therapeutic programming, therapeutic support and “Transitional Support”/next stage therapy. The MUSE project’s therapy specifically introduces the use of the MUSE device which assists with body awareness and mindful breathing training to help individuals self-ground (see picture of device).

In total, Elora House supported 30 survivors with this project. Those who have successfully completed all recent programming are now living outside of the house, either with family or an assisted living facility.

Church Out Serving is a faith-based, volunteer run, local charity in Simcoe, Ontario whose focus is to “love our neighbours”. They do this with actions, serving in practical ways, drawing people together who are committed to making a difference in the community. They run a variety of programs, with a large, active volunteer pool of over 300 local residents, that respond to specific needs not currently met by other organizations or local groups. All of the projects and programs are offered free of charge to recipients. They include emergency meal preparation and delivery (fresh and frozen), community dinners, food hamper delivery during the COVID crisis, Donation Station – repurposed household appliances and furniture, laundry service, and school children’s clothing package program for families referred by CAS and local schools.

A WDP grant helped cover the storage costs for the Donation Centre.  Locker space is necessary to temporarily house donations of used furniture and basic household necessities that are given to individuals and families facing unemployment, financial insecurity and personal crisis (including abuse and domestic violence).

59 families were assisted via the Donation Centre during this grant period.

NorthWind seeks to bring hope and healing to Indigenous people through whole life discipleship with focus on four areas:

• Counselling by registered psychotherapists
• LifeBuild: life development and skills training
• Land-Based Activities: canoeing, archery, and crafts
• Spiritual Growth through Bible teaching and mentoring.

A WDP grant helped fund a restorative program for abused women who 1.  learned to set boundaries and build healthy relationships, while affirming their own knowledge and expertise; 2. learned to identify problems, develop solutions, take ownership of behaviours, and apply new skills to their lives; 3. practiced implementing the former using role play and conversations; 4. used these skills at home, expressing their boundaries and responding to boundary challenges from family members in healthier ways.  The participants experienced improved relationships and increased autonomy.

The program enjoyed up to three women per week; one attended consistently, and participated in the six weeks of the Women Restored program. They came from broken family situations, abusive relationships, and paths of addictions, which left markings on their physical bodies along with their mental, emotional and spiritual beings.

Observation from staff on the consistent participant:

She came eager to learn and from the outset, she opened up about ways she was trying to implement what she was learning within the relationships she had, especially with her teenaged daughter. She desired to have a healthier relationship with her but did not know how to set boundaries to govern their interaction. At the same time, she was coming out of an abusive romantic relationship, and she learned, through the Women Restored program, which areas in her life she could control. She gained a deeper understanding of herself, her needs, and the boundaries she needed within her different relationships.

We, the coaches, were able to journey alongside her as she grew into discovering her worth and the desires God had put in her heart.

WISH operates in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside; the site of a complex set of social issues and overlapping crises including a poisoned drug supply, homelessness, poverty, crime, health issues, and now a continuing global pandemic.

The WISH mission is to improve the health, safety, and well-being of women involved in Vancouver’s street-based sex trade, and believe that every woman should have access to opportunities to make free, healthy, and positive choices.

Each day and night, approximately 350 women come through the WISH doors for support and services. Participants are cis and transgender women, with an over-representation of Indigenous women due to ongoing effects of colonization, the residential school system, and discrimination.

A WDP grant helped connect 200 women to improve their mental health through cultural crafts & activities, and learning new skills related to Indigenous traditions.