By Jennifer Harris Dault
“We are all part of an amazing story — God’s story.”
That was the message Cindy Dawson, executive director of Global Women, hoped to communicate at her group’s Summit March 7-8 in St. Louis.
The Summit was designed to provide a forum for sharing stories of women from around the world, and the 200 attendees were invited to “write yourself into the story.”
Global Women, an ecumenical organization with Baptist ties, works on behalf of vulnerable women around the world by addressing economic empowerment, education, sex trafficking, clean water and maternal health.
“We’re here to celebrate. We’re also here to hear heartbreaking stories,” Dawson said.
“We connect with Christian women leaders from around the world … and come alongside them,” Dawson added. Global Women currently partners with organizations in eight countries: Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Haiti, Moldova, Myanmar, Nepal, Uganda and Zambia.
Natasha Clapaniuc, director of House of Change for Beginning of Life in Moldova, was the Summit’s featured guest partner. Beginning of Life works with vulnerable women, many of whom are victims of human trafficking, domestic violence or sexual abuse.
Clapaniuc directs the rehabilitation and restoration programs that help women receive the care and counseling they need, as well as allow them to continue their education, learn a skill and transition back into the world.
According to Clapaniuc, in Moldova, 95 percent of women have experienced violence. Over 30 percent are regularly abused. There are more than 300,000 victims of illegal migration and human trafficking in Moldova alone, and sex and labor exploitation of minors is expanding.
Beginning of Life seeks “to restore God’s original intent for his creation, simultaneously transforming people physically and spiritually and integrating them into society,” she said.
In addition to the House of Change, Beginning of Life has three other programs — a Psychological Art Studio, which uses art therapy to aid the healing process; an Urban Center for young men, to help prevent sexual abuse by changing the way men in Moldova view women; and the House of Hope, for women who are at-risk of being trafficked or entering prostitution due to extreme poverty and lack of education.
The Birmingham, Ala.-based Global Women has partnered with Beginning of Life by providing funds and assisting with an annual camp.
Clapaniuc emphasized how important it was for Global Women to come to Moldova and help with the camp. There is a perception among those in Moldova that Americans are very rich, but cold and uncaring, she said.
But the camp breaks myths about American people, she added.
“You are so soft and have big hearts,” Clapaniuc said. Women need to know about Jesus, “but when you come and just embrace, all the gospel is in your heart. This is very important.”
She told the story of one camper, Marina. After participating, Marina said, “I feel like I start to live again. I want to go to church because the Americans are all Christian, and I want to be around people like that.”
Participants at the Summit, held at Third Baptist Church in St. Louis, were encouraged to learn more about the partner organizations through workshops and exhibit booths.
An interactive prayer station allowed women to pray with their hands. At some of the stations, women could weave fabric on a loom while praying for economic development partners, hold a doll and listen to lullabies while praying for maternal health, and write prayers to be compiled into a book for Beginning of Life.