Transform Lives of Goa's Underprivileged Women

Dear Patron,

In India, women’s empowerment remains a crucial issue, touching every sphere of life like social, economic, and political. Over the years, the country has made commendable progress in reducing gender inequality and advancing women’s rights, but challenges persist. Many women continue to face barriers in education, economic opportunities, healthcare, and political participation. Economic disparity, restricted access to quality education, and the persistence of violence and discrimination still hold back women from realizing their full potential.

At El Shaddai, we witness these struggles first-hand and are committed to changing the story for underprivileged women in our state. We have established shelters, community centres, and Homes that not only provide safety but also open doors to growth. Women are enrolled in a wide range of educational and vocational training programs like tailoring, mehendi, crochet, and more. These initiatives help women gain valuable skills, empowering them to rise above generational poverty and become contributors to their families and communities. Over the years, 36,456 women have been supported through our programs, with 5,000 of them securing meaningful employment opportunities.

Behind these numbers are stories of resilience women who faced adversity yet refused to give up.

Here is the story of Riya (name changed), a 28-year-old woman from Goa. Life has never been easy for her. As the sole breadwinner, she shoulders the responsibility of caring for her aging parents. Each day begins before sunrise and stretches late into the night — cleaning homes, cooking meals, paying bills, and tending to her family. Survival, not choice, defined her life.

Yet, even in this routine of exhaustion, a spark of possibility appeared. A neighbour mentioned a tailoring course at the Albert Good News Community Centre. For her, the thought of doing something beyond housework felt almost impossible — but she decided to try. After long hours of work, she would head straight to class, often tired but determined.

Slowly, she began to learn. Blouses, alterations, small stitching orders — skills that transformed her sense of self. The same hands that once only scrubbed floors now created garments, each piece stitched with pride. For the first time, she wasn’t just working to survive; she was building a future.

Today, while she still works as a maid to sustain her family, she is carving out her own path. Every stitch she makes carries the promise of independence, dignity, and hope.

Stories like her embody the mission of El Shaddai: to inspire, educate, and empower women, offering them not just skills, but hope and dignity.

Through your generous sponsorship, we are able to reach out to more women like her.  Your support provides the financial foundation for our programs and stands as a powerful statement of your commitment to social responsibility and lasting change. We are deeply grateful for your trust in our work and the lives it transforms.

We express our heartfelt gratitude to you all.

Sincerely

 
El Shaddai family 

Links:

• https://childrescue.net/