Crossing Barriers, Empowering Women

Quick stats about Education in South Asia:

• 3 out of 4 girls are not enrolled in primary school

• The number of girls finishing five years in education has declined

• Adult literacy rate is 55%, amongst women the rate is 7.5% 

“…He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted…” (Isaiah 61:1)

Introducing Daily Bread
The issue of female education is closely linked to both the issue of poverty and deeply engrained attitudes and discrimination against women in many South Asian cultures. In a culture where women are seen as inferior to men, far fewer girls are able to attend or complete school.

Many girls are only taught household chores as there are little opportunities for women outside of having children and being a mother. With no social security or means of income generation, women are extremely dependent on their husbands. If the husband divorces and abandons the family, she has no way to provide for herself and her family.
 
Daily Bread School is committed to crossing barriers to empower girls and women in the South Asian country where they operate. Daily Bread encompasses a school and a vocational training centre which work to the same end – seeing vulnerable children and women empowered through education and skills training. The vision is that these children and women will then be able to provide for themselves, improve their standard of living and lift themselves out of poverty.
 
The Vocational Training offers a one and two year program and has seen over 300 women graduate from the courses. Girls and women are trained in tailoring and learn to make items such as table mats, school uniforms and handbags. The Centre also teaches marketing skills to help their future businesses thrive. A basic computer course is also taught to support learning. Upon completing the course, the girls and women have a much greater likelihood of finding employment which leads to decreased crime, abuse of women/girls in the community and an overall improved quality of life.

Anita’s Story
Anita is a graduate of Daily Bread Vocational Centre. When she finished year five, she was married. Anita went on to have three children with her husband, who works as a labourer. The family live in extreme poverty with Anita’s husband struggling to make a dollar a day. Anita found out about Daily Bread because they lived nearby. She decided to enroll in the Vocational Centre. Through the skills in tailoring she learnt, she can now earn a living, pay the bills and send the children to school.

When asked how Daily Bread has helped her, she said:

“My life has changes since I joined Daily Bread. I haven’t just learnt vocational skills but I’ve learnt to love and respect myself, gain confidence and find hope. I wish to soon start up a new vocational centre so I can help many girls in our village and share with them what I’ve learnt and share the love I’ve experienced at Daily Bread.” 

Give:
A tax-deductible gift to SIM’s Daily Bread School will help empower South Asian girls and women like Anita. Help break the cycle of poverty through education and vocational training! 

Click here to give a gift.