International Work

INDIA

In January of 2006, Susan Kiely made her first trip to India. While there, she formed a partnership with Operation Mercy Charity Company. Over the next few years, two training centers were built and staffed.

OMCC is committed to bettering the lives of the Dalits (the Untouchables) and the oppressed castes of India.

Through the financial efforts of Women With A Cause, the Economic Training Center was established. This center houses the Lydia Project, which is the company that produces beautiful one-of-a-kind clothing, jewelry, and tote bags. The sale of these products provides income for the women. After the women have completed a course of study in the area of pattern making and sewing, they may stay at the Lydia Center and help teach others. They may also seek employment at a factory or establish their own sewing business.

Part of the program entails teaching the women how to budget their income and form Self-Help Empowerment groups. These small organizations do micro lending in their communities.

In addition to training women, the center also provides education to their children. This education will enable the next generation to obtain good-paying jobs in their communities.

After empowering over 800 Indian women in partnership with Operation Mercy, India, Women With A Cause turned over the economic training centers and the Lydia Company to Operation Mercy, India.

AFRICA

In the spring of 2010, Susan first visited Yetebon, Ethiopia in Africa. At this time an agreement was made to partner with Project Mercy. In March 2011, fifteen computers were delivered to Project Mercy. Women who have aged-out of the Project Mercy Orphanage, as well as, women from the local villages will be trained in computer skills which will enable them to obtain government and private sector jobs in Addis Ababa, the nearby capital of Ethiopia.

In January, 2012 Women With A Cause hired an international poultry consultant to put togther a plan which will include:
building chicken coops, purchasing 500 Israeli chickens and teaching the women how to care for the chickens. These women will give the eggs to the orphanage at Project Mercy and will sell the remaining eggs at the village market.