Most women in Bihar, India have never been educated, nor do they possess any marketable business skills. Mark Brister Ministries helps sponsor the Transformation India Movement’s  “Empowering Women Program” at the Bridge of Hope Tailoring Center. One of the most exciting programs in Bihar trains and equips women to start their own micro-enterprise  businesses.  For $100 we provide a woman a foot pedal sewing machine allowing her to begin her own business following successful graduation from the sewing and tailoring school.

The school curriculum and training takes six months. Women learn basic math skills since they have to design their own patterns. There are no simple patterns to buy at a local shop! They learn to sew first on newspapers. Then they sew doll sized clothing for practice. As their work progresses, so does their confidence level as they advance toward graduation.

When I visited this wonderful program,  women jumped to their feet and came to me to shake the hand of a man who has helped them learn to sew. Biju Thomas later shared with me the significance of the self esteem of these women. The fact that they would come and assert themselves to shake my hand represents an enormous leap for them in self-confidence. Biju reminded me that before the school these Bihar women would have never been that secure.

If helping them financially and emotionally was not enough reward, Biju Thomas  reports that half these women ultimately open their hearts to the reason Transformation India Movement exists - the compassion and love of Jesus shared in Bihar.