This month in India my team is partnering with Rescue Pink. Rescue pink is is a non profit organization with a mission that is dedicated to ending female infanticide in India through rescue, prevention and awareness.
So what does this month look like for my team this month? My team and I go out every morning until mid afternoon collecting stories from the women that are in any of the programs Rescue Pinks offers. Rescue Pink offer three different types of programs: entrepreneurship program, nutrition program, and an after school program for children ages five to twelve. At first, I must admit that I was caught off guard and saddened by some of their stories but I quickly learned important information about Indian culture.
Let me share a little bit about Indian Culture before I continue telling about our ministry. India has roughly around 1.25 billion people and 94.9% of the population is unreached. The main religion in India is Hinduism. The populations religions consists of 79.8% Hindu, 14.2% Islamic, 3.7% other religions, and Christianity is 2.3%. Most marriages here are arranged. Mothers, fathers, and teachers are considered as next to their Hindu God’s and are highly respected. In many cases a married Hindu women considers her husband as God. Hindu women and children wear clothing that cover all the body except their face. In a Hindu sacred text called the Vedas, it states “You must treat your guests as gods”. In the Hindu religion, hospitality is very important.
Now that you know more about the Indian culture, lets continue.
Through Rescue Pink, women in India can receive entrepreneur training so that they can launch their own business with a loan that the organization offers them. During my short time in India I have heard the stories of several women and how this program has made a difference in their lives. Many women desire to open their own business so they can make income that will help provide for their families.
India still runs on the dowry system even though it was made illegal in 1961. In the dowry system the women’s family is to give gifts or money to the grooms family on behalf of the bride’s family.Due to this, families who have several girl children cannot afford to pay for the dowry’s and have to borrow money from elders in their village to pay the dowry. The family will then have to work off the borrowed money. This creates a debt bondage where a person pledges to do labor to repay for the dowry debt. The debt cost may be undefined and due to this the length of their service may be undefined.
A women can be frowned upon in her family if she doesn’t birth a son. Families will continue to try for a boy child even if they don’t have the finances to support another child. Starting a business can help the women earn a portion of money that will not only allow her to save for her daughters dowry but it also helps provide enough money that will feed her family. During our interviews, women have shared that they have opened vegetable or fruit stalls, make jasmine flowers that women put in their hair, start a sewing business, etc.
Rescue Pink provides training to teach women how to take care of their children and how to prepare nutritious foods for their families. Rescue Pink provides nutrition for families through their nutrition program. When a women/family becomes part of this program she receives oats, wheat and rice flour, soy beans, nuts, and eggs once a month. She will then be able to provide nutrition for her newborn child.
Rescue Pink provides an after school program that provides tutoring, hygiene, and nutrition. When the children arrive at the center they wash their faces, fingers, and toes. Each day the children are also given an egg and a glass of milk. The after school program provides for children’s needs but also exists to create a safe space for the children to actually be children instead of running around on the streets. Rescue Pink also offers camp for children during the summer time. It has been such a joy getting to love on these smiling faces every day. They love sharing what they are learning in English, singing, and sharing all their hand clapping games.
As hard as it is to hear some of these ladies stories and the adversities they are facing, I am encouraged through the mission of Rescue Pink and how it strives to help the women and children of India. It truly is beautiful to be partnered with a non-profit that cares so deeply about helping these women and children. I can only hope that I can show the love and hope of Christ to these women and children during my time here. Continue to keep these people in your prayers as they experience so many hardships each day and many of them do not have a relationship with God. I pray that we can show the beauty of God in the midst of so many adversities.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:7
With Love,
Shannon Roediger
