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| Leaving a Legacy |
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Compassion
"We need the poor as much as they need us" Wimber
Despite India's recent economic advancement, its 250 million Dalit's still live in poverty and suffer from every conceivable form of discrimination. Sadly the benefits of economic growth do not descend to those who by birth are condemned to be outcasts from society and are labelled 'untouchable'. As such they cannot eat with or even drink the same water as high caste people. They are relegated to the lowest jobs, and live in constant fear of being publicly humiliated by upper-caste Hindus seeking to keep them in their place. A Dalit is not allowed to wear shoes in the presence of an upper caste. Merely walking through an upper-caste neighbourhood is a life-threatening offence.
Under the caste system Dalit women are especially vulnerable with only 2 or 3% of Dalit women able to read or write. Women's labour is undervalued and the atrocities committed against them common and often vulgar in the extreme. Recent cases have included Dalit women being paraded naked, being forced to eat human defecation, being beaten and gang raped.
Dalit children too are abused and oppressed. Many thousands are held in bonded labour from a very early age. I heard of a young man who from the age of 4 had risen at 5 o'clock every morning to go to a factory where he worked till 6 in the evening. Like many Dalit children he had no opportunity to attend school.
In addition, thousands of Dalit girls between the age of six and eight are taken from their families to become 'Maidens of God'. Many are later raped by the temple priest and finally auctioned in to prostitution before succumbing to AIDS.
We have a great opportunity and privilege as the Vineyard to resource, equip and touch this community with the love of God.
We want to be able to give £10,000 to the Dalit's in India specifically to help the local Churches reach their communities practically.
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