Next week, nations around the world will be celebrating International Women's Day on March 8. Will you? Through the programs of India Partners I have worked with women in India for over 24 years. I have come to admire the strength of women here and abroad that have overcome many challenges to persevere in tough times. You may know women like these too.

Imagine working a 12-hour day as a laborer in the fields while leaving your six-year-old child home alone to fend for himself. Consider what you would do if you were a poor, young widow in India with no skills, and needing to provide for yourself, were lured into the sex trade. What if you were an elderly widow, with no children to take care of you, so you had no option but to beg on the streets? These are real situations for Dalit women in India, who are the poorest of the poor. The need to help poor, unskilled women in India is great, and India Partners is meeting that need through our partner-run sewing schools...

After Kumari’s father died, there was only her mother to earn money and support the family. Kumari could not go to school after the 10th grade because her mother could not earn enough to support her education. From then on, she began to pray and ask God to provide an opportunity for her. One Sunday when she came to church, the pastor made an announcement about the next training program at a nearby sewing school that was sponsored by India Partners. She applied and was accepted....

Last week I returned from India. I was there for two weeks visiting some of our partners and their projects. It was a great trip and I can again confirm that the support you give to India Partners is truly helping change lives in that country of great need.

One project in particular I want to share with you, and ask if you would help. The project is a self-sufficient emu farm that was proposed by our partners Pastor Eliezer and Sister Prema at Living Sacrifice Ministries...

A Community Who Cares

When Prabha was born, her parents were shocked that she was so small and had such brittle bones. Concerned about her future, Prabha’s parents provided home schooling, cared for her in every way and tried every rehabilitation effort...

“Human trafficking” is a buzz phrase in today’s news, and for good reason. It is a worldwide epidemic. In India, there are an estimated 2.8 million sex workers, according to the Indian Ministry of Women & Child Development. India Partners has been avidly focused on this important issue in India and is working to create awareness worldwide...

Arthur Road Jail, one of the oldest and largest jails in Maharashtra, India was built to accommodate 1074 prisoners. In reality over 3,000 inmates force unsanitary conditions, pushing all water and sanitation systems beyond limits. Cells designed to hold 50 are often overflowing with 180 plus people living and sleeping like sardines. Disease spreads like a wildfire, with HIV and TB stealing the lives of those who are too weak to endure...

One night Devae was cooking food for herself and her husband, Muda. She was rushing to cut the vegetables before he returned home. Muda often returned home drunk and would beat Devae if the food was not ready. That night, Muda stumbled into the one-room hut, fully drunk, and very angry, as the food was not ready. Muda started to shout at Devae, caught her hair and started to beat her...