YOUNG MOTHERS PROGRAM
The young mother’s program developed to bring dignity to woman who had been raped or had been used for sexual slavery and kicked out of their homes. Young mothers had been approaching the Hand of God Ministries Family center wanting to give their children over to the ministry because they could not afford to feed themselves and their children. Since, Hand of God ministries is not an orphanage and not set up to care for children in this way, the board of Hand of God Ministries decided to do something to help these mothers stay with their children.
Meal Program
The young mothers needed a place to take their children so they could go out and find work. They also could not afford to feed their children, so we created the day school and feeding program. The mothers bring their children to the feeding center early in the morning and leave them there until about 4:30 in the evening. We feed the children breakfast, lunch and teach them things you would see in any pre-school program. When the mothers come to get their children in the evening we feed them and the children a good, healthy meal. We teach the mothers about business, finances, health care, child health care and classes on spiritual and emotional health. We found after 2 years in the program the mothers found it hard to make enough to get out of serious poverty, so we began to look at projects to give them a way to make a living, like the Jewelry Project, and the Tesfa Self Help Groups
Jewelry Project
The young mothers have learned to make paper and clay beads. They are now making necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. To see the jewelry making please go to the Jewelry link. All beads are handmade, either from paper or clay found only in Ethiopia. It takes 2 weeks to make a piece of jewelry from start to finish. Purchasing a piece of jewelry from Hand of God Ministries gives these women life and dignity in addition to feeding their children.
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