The face of global poverty is a woman’s face.
She may have lost her livelihood due to climate shocks; she may have been displaced from her home due to conflict; she might not know where her children’s next meal will come from; her day may be filled trying to keep herself and her family alive, leaving no time to participate in her community’s decision making if her voice were even welcome.
But she is not helpless, do not believe that myth. She is resilient and determined in the face of adversity. She doesn’t need pity, she needs her calls for justice to be heard and realised.
This could be the story of one of the thousands of women working with Christian Aid partners in Malawi as part of the Rural Entrepreneurship Assistance Programme (REAP) which the Congregational Federation are supporting. Women who, despite their hard work, are struggling to make ends meet are now learning business skills and joining savings and loans groups. This training includes help with idea generation, market research, profit calculation, and record-keeping.
Lidia Lackson is a mother of four who, thanks to training from the REAP programme has taken a small loan and launched a successful tomato-selling business and joined her village savings and loans group. She is now able to provide for her family, pay school fees for her children and make long term plans. Lidia is aiming to save £500 in the next year which she plans to invest in purchasing a piece of land.
Across the world, both now and in the past, women’s capabilities have been overlooked and underestimated, but so many of their stories are ones of determination, resilience and hope. During Advent we read and remember again the powerful voice of Mary which shines so strongly through her words in the Magnificat in Luke 1.44-55. In Mary, God placed the hope for all the world, and she praises God who brings hope to the poor and the hungry.
The hymn shared is inspired by Mary’s words and written by Kathy Galloway. It speaks of the hope that is found when we listen to the voices of those who are overlooked.
When out of poverty is born
a dream that will not die
and landless, weary folk find strength
to stand with heads held high,
it’s then we learn from those who wait
to greet the promised day:
‘The Lord is coming; don’t lose heart.
Be blest: prepare the way!’
When people wander far from God,
forget to share their bread,
they find their wealth an empty thing,
their spirits are not fed.
For only just and tender love
the hungry soul will stay.
And so God’s prophets echo still:
‘Be blest: prepare the way!’
When God took flesh and came to earth,
the world turned upside down,
and in the strength of woman’s faith
the Word of Life was born.
She knew that God would raise the low,
it pleased her to obey.
Rejoice with Mary in the call,
‘Be blest: prepare the way!
Musician, Kima Otung, lyrics by Kathy Galloway
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