Through literacy, sewing and Bible stories, women in the Northern Warmi community are discovering their true value.
“In our community, people say, ‘Oh, you don’t need to learn at this age,’ but God gave us this opportunity—at this age—to come and learn all these things.”
A woman seated on the floor of the small, dimly-lit classroom recalls her neighbours’ reactions to adult education. The students in the room are all older than the typical first-time pupil—the majority are in their teens, with a handful in their twenties and even thirties. Almost all of them are married.
Each sits behind a hand-powered sewing machine. Along with reading and writing, they are learning how to sew clothing and household items, and at the end of the year-long program, each woman will get to keep her machine. With it, she’ll be able to start a small home business.
“We can sew not only our own clothes, but clothes for our relatives and neighbours…we can support our family financially,” says another pupil.
God actually listens
But that’s not all that the students are learning. In addition to practical skills, women are discovering through oral Bible stories that Jesus values them.
“In the story of Jesus feeding the 5000, we learned that when we ask God, He actually listens,” shares a teenager, surprise written on her face.
It’s a new concept for women who aren’t used to being heard. The idea that God truly cares about them runs counter to the narrative that surrounds their lives from birth: they have no social status, no money and no power.
Worth investing in
But the God they’re encountering at the women’s centres tells them that they are worth investing in. That truth is changing how they see themselves—and how they interact with others.
An older student describes taking her sick son to the hospital, where they were ignored by the medical staff. “Coming to the sewing centre gave me the confidence to speak to the doctor directly: ‘Look at my child!’”
She adds, “And I didn’t need to wait for someone to dial my phone number for me. I dialed the number myself, and told our family where we were.”
Teaching others
The students are also bringing the lessons they’ve learned home to their families. After standing to pray in front of the class, one of the youngest students shares, “Not only am I learning to pray, but I am teaching my brothers and sisters that they can learn to pray, too.”
Azad* oversees the women’s centres. He’s a translation consultant with the Jeewan Cluster and part of the Northern Warmi language group. When he saw the struggles that women faced in his community, he wanted to give them an opportunity. He also sees a greater purpose for the centres:
“These are not just our students—these are our families. God gave us 15 families, 15 homes to reach, to share the gospel through them—so in this way, God is opening the door for us to serve better.”
*pseudonym
Story by Ruth Richert
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