This July, the Mustard Seed was honored to be able to donate $8000 to various organizations in many different countries. Many of these organizations are featured below. As in the past, the Mustard Seed has consistently giving to a core group of organizations in order to build strong relationships and ensure that the organzation is accountable. It is Mustard Seed’s hope that the donations are transforming and improving lives. Owner Judy Kohl is also very open to new organizations that would benefit
IDP (Nakuru region, Kenya, Africa)
An Internally Displaced Person (IDP) is someone who is forced to leave his or her home, but still lives within the country’s border. According to IDMC (Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre), some 26 million people worldwide currently live in situations of internal displacement as a result of conflicts or human rights violations. IDPs are prevalent in the Nakuru region i nAfrica due to the 2008 post-election violence. Hopefully through transformational development principles and microfinance training, the IDPs will learn how to use local resources to provide for their families.
Healing Hands of Joy (Ethiopia)
At the Mustard Seed, the importance of helping women in need is strongly emphasized. Many women in developing countries are under empowered. Judy states, “We want to give them [women] a little bit of grace and a second chance”. Healing Hands of Joy strives to bring hope, joy and happiness to women in Ethiopia who are affected by obstetric fistula. Obstetric fistula is a severe medical condition in which a women acquires after a long, strenuous and painful failed childbirth. The women are often abandoned by their families and are on their own to live in their shame. Thankfully, Healing Hands of the Joy helps provide these women with a brighter future.
Hope For Life Orphanage (northern Zambia, Africa)
Many orphans of Africa are plagued by HIV/AIDS and other illnesses. Often, they are left with no support and care. Hope For Life‘s long term mission is to provide these orphans with “balanced nutrition, routine healthcare and top-quality education”. The organization’s ultimate goal is to send these orphans off to college through their scholarship funds and “reverse the devastation of disease and poverty in their homeland”.
Chennai Orphanage (India)
Many Mustard Seed have served on mission trips throughout the world. In particular, to the Chennai orphanage so it is an organization was dear to many of the volunteers. Founded in 1952 by Dr. Paul Gupta. Chennai orphanage is essentially a college that has equipped thousands of men and women with vision, skills, character and obedience to the Great commission in India and beyond. Orphans are fed and clothed, and are given special purchases such as a pad so they don’t have to sleep on cement or a wood frame. Reflecting on her experience at Chennai, Mustard Seed volunteer Joanie Alley states, “their little faces will forever be etched in my mind and heart”.
Heart- WEEP Women (Kibera, Africa)
The Women Empowerment Equality Project WEEP is committed to helping save women who are in the advanced stages of AIDS with the hope of preventing their children from becoming orphans. By providing medical treatment, WEEP works towards empowering these women- many of whom have been abandoned or widowed. Women are taught how to become self-sufficient by learning skills such as making jewelry. Their children are also given the opportunity to attend school and are provided with school uniforms and school resources. It is WEEP’s mission to improve the lives of these women and children in order to break the impoverished cycle.
Girls Shelter at the Dump Nakuru (Africa)
The goal of the Girls Shelter is to help twelve girls, their families and the entire dump site community in Nakuru to restore to a right relationship with God, each other, and the land. As of January 2012, six young women have graduated into secondary school, with costs running at about $900/year/student for tuition and supplies.
Hand and Cloth (Bangladesh)
Hand and Cloth is a non-profit company that the Mustard Seed has enjoyed buying from. Hand Cloth “provides dignified work to women at the risk (sex trafficking and general exploitation)”. The company is known for their two-sided kantha blankets made by women in Bangladesh who are grateful for the opportunity to work.
