Global Sisterhood Initiative

GLOBAL SISTERHOOD INITIATIVE (G.S.I.)™

The goal of G.S.I. is to provide practical resources to women abroad (primarily in third world countries) who seek to make a positive contribution to their community yet have been limited in their opportunities to provide for themselves and their children as a result of widowhood, cultural mores´ and civil unrest.

PERSPECTIVE AND ACTION: At some point in life, a person comes to the realization that the world is far more vast and complex than was previously thought. The comfortable and familiar experiences that represent everyday existence are juxtaposed with images of people whose way of life is completely foreign. Yet, there are a few basic ‘instinctives’ commonly shared by all: the desire for food and shelter, safety, good health and survival, in general.

The advent of technological marvels like the internet, SKYPE, and Facebook®, have made it possible to build relationships with those who live thousands of miles away in a fraction of the time it would have taken just 30 years ago. Building those relationships brings with it the stark awareness that everything isn’t always rosy and positive on every part of the planet.
The grimy film of ignorance, apathy, and fear that covers one’s window of perspective can be wiped clean by a softened heart that rejects excuse making and has a willingness to become the "hands and feet" of ministry on behalf of others. ~Phylicia Perry

Everyday life for most of the women who live in the rural setting
known as the "African bush"

Helping friends and family understand and empathize with people who live so far away and have no immediate impact on their current circle of influence or social network can be quite challenging…but not impossible.

G.S.I. is a natural outworking of the overall vision of Sisterhood Of Servants: to motivate and encourage women today and the generations that follow to live with a desire to serve others and willingness to implement plans of action that meet the practical needs of those in their circles of influence and beyond.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

A skeletal framework is currently being developed and should be completed by the end of summer 2012. Once complete, formal application will be made to grantmakers to assist with funding the initiative. Included in the program are the following "quality of life initiatives"

HUMANITARIAN AID
the focus will be on the drilling of wells in rural communities and the expansion/ development of maternity facilities and
resources in local clinics

LITERACY SOLUTIONS
the goal is to tackle the problem of illiteracy among women/children by providing books, teachers (where possible) and other resource materials to help faciliate the most basic of survival skills - the ability to read

JOB TRAINING
a comprehensive training program specific to geographic
area complete with basic entrepreneurial classes

MICRO LOANS
includes the financing of business enterprise on a very small scale to improve the overall quality of life for individual families