Women’s Ministries Announces Colombian Project
Church of God Women’s Ministries recently announced a project for which they hope to raise $500,000 for a safe house for endangered girls in the country of Colombia.
Cota, located in the Central Savanna Province, is a densely populated outskirt of Bogota, the capital city of Colombia. According to the 2015 census, the population for the town and surrounding area is 24,916. This metropolitan city boasts a suffocating population of 1,200 people per square mile.
Colombia has been a country at war for over 50 years. This turmoil leaves a legacy of abuse, displacement by violence, orphaned children and high risk individuals.
Provisión de Amor is a safe house directed by Rosalba Pérez Gómez, General Director, who opened the Asociación Jireh Provisión de Amor safe house as an answer for endangered girls, orphaned through the atrocities of war. As victims of abuse, neglect and abandonment, many found themselves without a place to go. Left without protection, girls are sexually abused and molested. They experience the unimaginable horror of human trafficking and exploitation of children in South America.
“The stories of the girls who have encountered the love found within the walls of the
Provisión de Amor are heart-wrenching,” stated Paula Hill, president of Church of God Women’s Ministries. “As we come to know their backgrounds and testimonies, we are astounded to learn how they were literally grasped from the hands of those who exploited and abused them.”
Hill went on to explain that Provisión de Amor provides a wonderful, loving environment located in a beautiful setting on a hillside in Cota. Girls who have successfully completed the program have moved on to higher education and vocational opportunities. In spite of their prior conditions, some of the residents have placed in the top ten percentile within the country. Thereby, they receive scholarships to prestigious schools in Colombia.
“Although out of harm’s way, they are still in need,” Hill explained. “The safe house is lacking some amenities. The girls at Provisión de Amor shower with cold water every day, yet they refuse to complain because they feel blessed to be where they are.”
Through the vision of Sister Rosalba, she is compelled to provide a permanent location for the school, currently hosting over 270 students. The plan, called the Circles of Hope Initiative,
is to furnish the school’s 21 classrooms with desks, boards, and computers. The technology labs will be furnished with iPads. There is the need to build safe houses to protect abandoned boys, vulnerable women and mothers. Additionally, there are required updates and remodels at Provisión de Amor.
Studies have revealed it will take over $900,000 to see this vision completed. Women’s Ministries believes it can be done though partnership with Youth and Discipleship, and Girls Ministries as they join hearts and hands together for the first time ever.
The challenge goal is $500,000, which includes $350,000 to build a protection home for young women and mothers and $150,000 for classroom furnishings.
“Part of the funding for the furnishings will purchase the needed iPads,” Hill stated. “We will fund the purchase of the computers for two technology labs. Additionally, 30 desks will be purchased for each of the 21 classrooms. We have committed to furnish the school with the additional materials required for effective classroom learning.”
Women’s Ministries, youth groups, and girl’s clubs across the U.S. and around the world are encouraged to adopt Provisión de Amor as their project this year.
