All her life, she and her poor family have been forced to work making bricks out of clay. She has never attended school. The family earns around 6 kr. a day for their backbreaking work. Rubena's dream is to get out of "slavery" and enter one of the Danish European Mission's sewing schools.
When Rubena's father died two years ago, it was a catastrophe. The family was now left alone without a father to protect them. One day, Rubena was captured by the factory owner, who locked her in a room as punishment because her mother couldn't repay a loan. She screamed desperately for help and was eventually released. Today, she continues to work in inhumane conditions with her mother and siblings. Rubena is afraid of what will happen if the factory owner wants her again.
Rubena has spent her entire childhood working in terrible conditions. In the picture, she is molding
Clay bricks. The work is often done in the baking heat for around 6 kr. per day.
There are millions of girls like Rubena in Pakistan who, because of their Christian faith and poverty, are at risk of abuse and persecution. Many are raped without any consequences for the rapists. The girls are not counted for anything because they are considered lowly in society. The police are often corrupt and unwilling to help these most vulnerable in Pakistan.
The Danish European Mission helps thousands of girls out of this misery by providing them with a sewing education. This education helps give the girls back their dignity. They go from being "slaves" to independent women who can sew, sell clothes and help their families out of the worst poverty.
You can help a young girl like Rubena move from fear to a better life of security and peace by giving her a sewing education. In the sewing schools, there is a good and loving atmosphere that gives the girls hope and the courage to live again. I hope you will help poor girls get a sewing education. Rubena and many others can change their lives with your support. Once the young girls have attended the sewing school for a year, they receive a diploma. At the end of the sewing program, they take their sewing machine with them so they can start their own small income-generating sewing business in the safety and security of their own homes. In just one year, the girls are equipped for the future and many of them do very well as a result of their newly acquired skills. The sewing school gives them a second chance to live with dignity and help their impoverished families out of debt.
During sewing training, the girls also have the opportunity to listen to the Gospel and learn to read, write and do math. This means that it will be harder to exploit the girls in the future. I ask for your valuable support to help Pakistan's vulnerable and poor girls get back on their feet by giving them a sewing education. Thank you so much for your support.
Warmest greetings
Henrik Due Jensen - Project Manager at Danish European Mission
