{LOVE ALL} GLOBAL
KITALE, KENYA
In 2008, the Transformed International team responded to the need of a high risk population of girls, know as street girls. Street girls are a high risk population due to the fact that they engage in prostitution in order to earn money for food, many of them earning about 25 cents a day. This dangerous lifestyle is one that can lead to contraction of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Many of the girls also end up having children, leading to a crisis of second generation street children. Each week this crisis grows as more girls turn to the streets for work and survival. At the time, there was no specific program in the Kitale area meeting the needs of this population, and so began the Neema (grace) Project.
The purpose of the Neema Project is to:
• rehabilitate (through counseling and care)
• educate (through general education, life skills, and learning a trade)
• reintegrate (setting each girl up with a business, or apprenticeship and assisting them in finding a home)
Since 2008, the program has undergone numerous changes as it piloted this new program. In December 2010 the first two girls graduated from the program followed by 5 more in June 2010. Six of those girls are currently either working as an apprentice at a tailoring shop or doing work for Mosaic Designs while they prepare to open a shop. TI is pleased with the progress of the program and will continue to walk through the reintegration of these girls while meeting the needs of the girls currently in the program.
MORNING STAR DEVELOPMENT: www.msdev.org
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN
Morning Star is a community of people who believe we can make a positive difference in the lives of Afghan families. Recently, one of the Tribal Elers in a remote village in rural Afghanistan said it best. “We have been waiting and praying for decades that someone would come and help us, now Morning Star is here.” What a privilege it is to daily engage with Afghans, and to collectively find solutions for the many challenges they face. Here are the focus areas of work for Morning Star Development:
Agriculture- The majority of Afghan families live in rural villages. Recovering from the ravages of war, farmers struggle to produce 30% of the nations food supply.
Education- Having been denied education opportunities during 23 years of war, Afghans are eager to study and learn
Health care- The number one health concern in Afghanistan is the lack of safe drinking water. 85% of their medical concerns are preventable with basic health care education.
Small Business Development- Firing up the “economic engine” of Small Business Development is the best way to stimulate the emerging economy in Afghanistan.
{LOVE ALL} GLOBAL
BRIDGE ACADEMY & COMMUNITY CENTER: www.thebridgeacademy.org
COATESVILLE, PA
The Bridge Academy and Community Center uses the creative arts, education and community projects as a means to build relationships with our community, and to educate, serve, and impact the community with the gospel message, ultimately making fully devoted followers of Christ.
The heartbeat of our programs department is to see individuals gain a better understanding of their God given talents, while simultaneously gaining the necessary lie skills to live them out. We offer a variety of classes in our Education and Creative Arts Departments. In Education we have classes for Pre-k through adults who desire to take their GED’s. Our creative arts department offers a variety of classes, workshops and camps throughout the year.
Imagine for a moment that you are a mother of 2 young children working 40 hours a week, earning minimum wage- that is about $15,000 pr year. How do you afford rent, health care, food and basic transportation?
In 2009, 24% of female-headed households lived below the poverty line in Chester County. Homelessness, hunger and poverty still haunt our county’s most vulnerable women and children. We’ve been making a difference since 1995 with our mission- to provide housing and supportive services to homeless and low-income women who want to improve their lives and become self-sufficient.
Our clients are women and children of all ages, races, and religious beliefs, but the common thread is their desire to make a better life for themselves and their children. Through our Transitional Housing, Supportive Housing, Shared Housing, and Graduate Outreach programs, we help women dare to dream. Education and comprehensive individualized programs are the keys to this process.
Transitional Housing Program- Provides a safe and stable place for women and children to live for up to a year. During that time they work toward getting a full time job, an apartment they can afford and the skills to manage their own households.
Shared Housing- Matches women with limited incomes to Chester County residents who have private rooms to rent in their homes.
Supportive Housing- Assists working women and mothers with children so they don’t become homeless.
Graduate Outreach Program- Encourages women who have completed any of our programs to stay in touch with our staff to support, guidance and social activities.
