Women of Vision Houston

A World Vision Program

Projects

Each Chapter of Women of Vision supports a minimum of one domestic project and one international project of its choice:

International Project

We chose El Salvador for our international project for a number of reasons: several of our chapter members speak Spanish; after 20 years of civil war so close to our homes, we have learned through our Salvadoran neighbors in Houston the economic struggles that Salvadorans still face; and we wanted to choose a location that we could visit for 5 - 7 days and still have an impact. We have made a long-term commitment to El Salvador and hope that, as our chapter grows, we will be able to consider supporting a project aiding women and children in another country, where women and girls are facing difficult challenges in achieving education and life opportunities.

2003-2005 Project Sonrisas

Project Sonrisas, which provided reconstructive surgery to poor children.

2006-2008 Micro-lending

The average Salvadoran micro loan is $480, and through individual loans this size and even smaller, thousands of Salvadoran women and men have started, expanded and sustained successful small businesses that have enabled their families to achieve economic independence, educate their children, and promise a brighter future for the next generation. Click here to read more about Microenterprise Development in El Salvador.

The young woman pictured to the right was a recipient of a loan to start a book store, and later a grocery, and a water distribution business.

Click here to see the slide show from our June 2007 trip to El Salvador.

Domestic Project

Our decision to support Martha’s Way was really God's timing. At the time of WOV Houston’s launch, one of our members was on the committee that developed the Christian Community Service Center’s (CCSC) Martha’s Way program. The Martha’s Way program wanted to make a difference in the lives of women and children in poverty in an under served Houston neighborhood where many in the immigrant community lived. WOV also wanted a local project that made a difference in the lives of women and children in poverty. This common interest brought the two groups together. In addition, several members of our group speak Spanish, enabling us to act as mentors at times to the students.

The mission of Martha's Way, located in the Gulfton area of Houston, is to increase the earning potential of low-income, mostly immigrant women through education, hands-on training, and other support necessary to begin and operate a professional housekeeping business. This program is part of the Christian Community Service Center (CCSC) in Houston and is geared to meet the needs of the unemployed in our community. Students complete both 'technical' and 'business' coursework before graduating from the program. Houston Women of Vision members assist Martha's Way by offering friendship and encouragement to new students, engaging in "role plays" with students practicing their interview and English skills, and helping graduates find employment opportunities.

The Martha's Way Domestic Housekeeping Training Program prepares workers to achieve success and independence. This goal is accomplished by providing a comprehensive training program that prepares workers to run independent businesses.

The 36-hour training program encompasses:

Technical Training: Instruction on each living area of a home (bath, kitchen, bedroom, game rooms, formal living areas); fine furniture and flooring care; strategy for efficient and effective cleaning; and chemical safety.

Business Skills I: Professional Mission Statements; Understanding Work Styles; Time Management and Communication; Image; Professional Ethics; Effective Business Communication; First Aid and Emergency Management; Marketing and Promotion

Business Skills II: Bidding a Job; Contract Negotiation; Budgeting and Planning; Inventory Control; Hiring; and Marketing Plan

In addition, many graduates have also competed 36 or more hours of English for Housekeeping.

To learn more about Martha's Way, go to http://www.ccschouston.com/vocational_training.html
or call 713-961-3993 or email Jobnet@ccschouston.com.

To hire a Martha's Way graduate, click here to open the form. Print the form and complete it, then either fax it to 713-961-1548 or mail it to CCSC Martha's Way, PO Box 27924, Houston, TX 77227-7924.

To contact Women of Vision Houston email info@wovhouston.org.