Supporting rural women
By Pam Snyder
Amazing work is happening in the Church of North India’s Diocese of Agra, thanks to the dedication of the Women’s Fellowship in the diocese. Eighty percent of the diocese’s churches are in rural (and often extremely remote) areas. People in these villages are of the lowest castes, and struggle to earn enough to provide for their families.
We met women living in mud huts, in the poorest of conditions. They sang and served us samosas—a dough pastry with potatoes inside. I was amazed to see people who have so little eagerly and generously sharing with strangers. They also have abundant determination to better their lives.
The Women’s Fellowship in Diocese of Agra is improving lives in these villages by promoting girls’ education. They teach reading, writing, stitching and other skills, and also build the girls’ and women’s confidence in their abilities. To fund this work, the Women’s Fellowship sells the villagers’ handmade items at their meetings, and also make and sell jams, chips and pickles. A village woman told us, “Thank God things are changing. We want to learn a trade!”
Pam traveled to India in October 2011 with Presbyterian Women’s Global Exchange.
Invite the participant from your synod to your next event to share more insights from this life-changing trip.
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