West Africa Wednesday
Pray each Wednesday for the Hands of Honor ministry and program expansion into another country.
by Becky McCabe, CAMA Africa Regional Developer
Birthed in 2012, Hands of Honor addresses the injustice and inequality in the lives of vulnerable teen girls in West Africa, primarily child laborers. The nonprofit, Save the Children, identified the best and worst places for girls in our world based on several indicators: education, child marriage, adolescent fertility rates, justice, security, and inclusion. Of the 144 countries analyzed, the lowest-scoring countries are in West Africa. There is a significant need to promote equality and opportunity for girls in West Africa!
What began with just a few girls in one community morphed into Hands of Honor and now ministers to over 100 girls spread out in seven communities located in two countries in West Africa. Hands of Honor advocates for and intervenes in the lives of vulnerable child laborers. Through Hands of Honor ministries, girls are offered a safe place in their community. They are cared for by qualified Christian staff who provide Bible, health, literacy, and vocational instruction.
In 2020, Hands of Honor fulfilled a long-time goal of launching a preventative measure against child labor in a vulnerable community. They and their partners built a Christian elementary school that provides equal access to education and addresses a critical need for a quality educational option in a rural community. The school is self-sustaining, and opportunities exist in other communities for Christian school builds. Studies have proven that children enrolled in and succeeding in school are far less likely to be put into forced labor by their families. Alliance Women has opportunity to expand the reach of Hands of Honor by helping them launch in a new location.
REACHING INTO SENEGAL
In 2018, Hands of Honor launched in Senegal through a partnership with SOS Dialogue, a counseling and skills training center providing vocational training for non-schooled girls from low-income families. As the only evangelical girls’ vocational school in Thies, the third largest city in Senegal, the center is uniquely positioned to demonstrate Christ-centered compassion to their participants. In the words of founder, Marthe, “The love of Jesus Christ for these girls is our motive.”
The partnership between SOS and Hand of Honor created a culinary arts vocational track through the school that provides the opportunity for employment in the booming hospitality and tourism sector in Senegal. In August 2021, the first nine students finished the three-year program and are safely employed.
Girls from low-income homes need to have their fees subsidized by outside partners. Gifts from Alliance Women will fully fund 10 students from start to finish in this three-year program. In addition to funding culinary arts students, Alliance Women desires to fund other Hand of Honor ministry expenses including staff compensation, orality training, vocational training, literacy materials, and annual professional development.
Alliance Women is committed to prayer and financial support for the Hands of Honor ministry in West Africa. We have set a goal to raise $25,000 for this vital ministry to girls.
To participate, please visit www.alliancewomen.org/give.
