Raising Hope for Healing Survivors

This year we have over 1,100 women who have enrolled in our Empowerment Programme. This initiative aims to uplift and support women, providing them with essential resources and skills to create a brighter future for themselves and their families.

Every week, between 200 and 300 women eagerly gather at our vegetable distributions. Here, they receive not only fresh vegetables and fruits but also bread, pizza, flour, cakes, and more. These gatherings are not just about food; they serve as a vital community hub where women connect with each other. During these sessions, they also attend insightful talks given by our psychologist and various guest speakers, fostering a supportive environment for mental well-being and personal growth.

As part of our commitment to women's health, we are collaborating with Faith in Practice, WINGS and Centro De Salud to organize a medical week which will take place in November. This event will be a significant milestone, as we prepare to provide medical assistance to 400 women, offering services such as gynaecology, VIA tests, and general practitioner consultations. It will be a crucial opportunity for the women to receive the healthcare they needed.

Recognizing the importance of skill development, we partnered with different organizations to introduce a variety of technical courses for the women in our Empowerment Programme. These courses included training in electricity, baking, therapeutic massage, and customer service. Participants not only gained valuable skills but also enhanced their CVs, empowering them to pursue better job opportunities.

Among these initiatives, we were particularly excited to launch our Artisanal Jewellery Course in collaboration with the Mesa De Competitividad. Over the span of five weeks, the women learned the fundamentals of jewellery making, gradually advancing to more sophisticated techniques and designs. This course was not just about creating beautiful pieces; it was about instilling confidence and fostering creativity.

Remarkably, even before completing the course, many women began selling their handcrafted jewellery. Some went door to door, while others sold from their homes or set up shop in the streets. Their entrepreneurial spirit shone brightly, and they quickly began to see profits from their hard work.

In addition, the women showcased their resourcefulness by researching unique techniques and designs on platforms like TikTok. They found inspiration and innovative ideas that allowed them to expand their creativity and offer distinctive pieces to their customers.

Through this jewellery project, we witnessed an incredible transformation. The women not only gained skills and knowledge but also built a supportive community that celebrated their triumphs. Together, they are crafting a future filled with hope, empowerment, and the beauty of artisanal craftsmanship. Here is a quote from one of the ladies about her experience:

This was a really nice experience for me, to learn all of this. I'll tell you that, when I first came, I felt very happy because I had never learnt how to do anything. As they said before, you shouldn’t do the same thing in the house all your life. Your life shouldn't be doing housework and fetching the children from school. This was a door opening for me, to create a business.
When I first came I couldn't do any of the things that they taught me here. I got it all wrong like 5 times. I couldn't do it. But I didn't give up and I said to myself that I would try again. And I tried again so many times. Now I admire myself and all the things I have achieved and all the things I have over there (where her jewellery was). I did it with the help of my family and of ANA who taught me and with the help of my husband and my children who motivate me to be successful.
I know this will take me far. I know it is a big door that has been opened for me, and I hope for all the women who are here today that they don't give up and that they fight for their dreams, because you shouldn't stagnate as a housewife, waiting for your husband to give you some money or asking him to be able to buy what you want. This was something big for me. With this (money I earn) I will be able to buy my own things. Now I won't have to ask my husband to buy things. Now I am able to go and buy things and, thank God, since I started with this, you aren't asking me, but, I am earning quite a lot. Since I learnt how to do this I kept going and a borrowed money to start a business because I was starting from nothing.
Now I have made all this product I told myself I wouldn't stay with it all in the house and so now I go in the streets and ask people if they want to buy and here I am. I make time for my family and I make time to sell. And I admire myself and all the ladies here for all the things we have made.
Thank you.

Empowering these women through education and skill development plays a crucial role in protecting them from the dangers of trafficking and exploitation. When women gain access to resources, knowledge, and financial independence, they become less vulnerable to predatory situations. By equipping them with technical skills and fostering a sense of community, we provide them with opportunities to secure stable livelihoods and make informed choices for themselves and their families. As they learn to create and sell their artisanal jewellery, they not only establish self-sufficiency but also build confidence and resilience. This newfound empowerment acts as a shield against exploitation, enabling them to recognize and resist harmful situations. In a supportive environment where they can share experiences and seek guidance, these women are more aware of their rights and less likely to fall victim to trafficking, ensuring safer pathways toward a brighter future.

The GOD’S CHILD Project and ITEMP have been working for 30 years to break the chains of poverty and slavery through education, housing and healthcare as well as direct intervention. Please click the link below to donate to support us in our ongoing mission.

The family lives in San Lorenzo El Cubo. They are currently staying in a friend’s house after being forcibly removed from their previous home. The family consists of Doña Rose, the matriarch, her seven children, and her two grandchildren. Doña Rose’s two oldest daughters, aged 20 and 18, are both currently pregnant for the second time. Doña Rose also has four other children who are no longer living with her, two of whom were removed by social services.

Before they were removed from their previous home, the family’s house was made of sheet metal with a dirt floor. There was a small rubbish dump next to the house, which was precariously close to a drop-off down to the rest of the village. The family had almost no possessions, other than the beds that were given to them by ANA so that they would not be sleeping in the dirt and a stove, also given by ANA, to cook their food.

At the end of 2022, Doña Rose’s two oldest daughters, Nadine and Silvia, spent two nights on the streets with their babies before ANA stepped in to temporarily house them. Their babies were checked by our medical staff in Casa Jackson and the mothers were given a space to live and some supplies to last them the Christmas period. After they had spent the time in our temporary housing the girls were able to return home.

Since that time, ANA has been closely involved with the family and attempting to support them as much as possible. Our main focus has been trying to get the younger daughters, Ana and Daniela, into school and to check on the health and welfare of the family. After a year of visits, discussions and support, we were able to enrol both Ana and Daniela in school for 2024. Both girls were given school supplies and a rucksack and encouraged to make the most of their schooling. They will receive their first scholarship cheques when they bring in their grades next month.

The difference was immediate. Previously, when visiting the house, we would find the children barefoot, in dirty or torn clothes and having not bathed for days. Now, however, the children take pride in their school uniform and clothes and bathe every day. The grades are fairly low, as to be expected for children who have not had the opportunity to study before, but the progress is definitely being made. Now the children are in school they spend less time out in the street on their own. Doña Rose enrolled Ana in our Reforzamiento Programme to help her with her homework and to fill in the gaps in her learning. She will also be also attending sessions with our psychologist to help her mental health.

In addition, Doña Rose and her daughter Nadine have both received medical support from us. Nadine came to us unwell and we were able to help her with the extreme pains she was suffering from. We were able to get her a diagnosis and provide her with medicine. This was when we were also able to help her realise that she was once again pregnant. Doña Rose we helped first through our medical brigade with Heart to Heart where we identified a tumour in her womb and we have since been able to support her with the exams and ultrasounds that she needs. We will continue to support her with her treatment.

The family has received support from us in lots of different ways, but there is still a long way to go. We will continue to work hard to protect the family and to give them the best chance at succeeding at life.

The GOD’S CHILD Project and ITEMP have been working for 30 years to break the chains of poverty and slavery through education, housing and healthcare as well as direct intervention. Please click the link below to donate to support us in our ongoing mission.