The Story of Asia's Widows

Tamarai stretches out her cupped hand, hoping at least one person will fill it with a few coins. When her husband died, she had no choice but to become a beggar. Society blamed her for his death, although it was all the alcohol he consumed that ate away at his body. Her children disowned her. She has to fend for herself. With every person that passes her empty hand, hope slowly slips away.

Tamarai is not alone in her pain—there are over 40 million widows in South Asia. After her husband's death, a widow may endure a life of poverty and utter hopelessness. She is believed to be cursed, and thus the cause of her husband's death. Shunned even by her own family, her only options for survival may be begging or prostitution. Yet the even greater tragedy is that most widows have never heard that Christ loves them.

Fighting Neglect with Sewing Machines

Through the simple gift of a sewing machine for $110, you can give a widow a source of livelihood while showing her that she is indeed loved.

With sewing machines, women are able to learn how to make a living and provide for themselves. Even those who have been abandoned by their husbands or families will have a new source of income, preventing them from a future of poverty and despair. Most importantly, the gifts come with the love of God—a love that our missionaries pray will draw each woman into a permanent relationship with the living God.

Turn Your Passion into Action

Use your passion to inspire your family, friends or church group to fundraise with you to provide sewing machines for widows in Asia. One sewing machine is only $110.

Our helpful fundraising pack will provide you with tools to aid in your fundraising, as well as motivate you as you work towards your goal. 100% of the funds you raise will go to the field. We'll create a personalised web campaign for you on givealittle.co.nz so that your friends can see your progress and donate to your campaign online.

In the pack:

• 1 full colour progress chart
• 1 full colour poster
• 1 full colour label to attach to a collection can
• Images to help promote your campaign through social media
• Stories and videos from the field
• Other helpful resources for reaching your goal and for sharing about your campaign

As you work together to bring hope to widows, you and your group will also be encouraged as you see God using your lives to reach many with the love of Jesus. No matter what your age or situation is, God can work through you to make a significant difference in Asia!

Click to View

Stories from the Field

A Letter from a Widow

Out with the Old and In with the New

Videos