This is Dorcus Bakari she is 39 years old and works with us at our "Women to Work" project, training to make our beautiful sandals. Dorcus is a mother of 3 daughters and a widow of 8 years. After her husband died she was chased off her property by his relatives and had to flee from her village and move to Arusha with no help and no family connections. In Dorcus' tribe women are not allowed to inherit property from their fathers so her 3 daughters had no claim to the land. Most of the time it doesn't even matter if the children are males, if the husband dies then his relatives will fight for the land, threatening, and bullying until they steal it. They almost always cheat the widows out of what is rightfully theirs. Having no advocates to fight for them the women are cast out from the village and left to survive on their own. These widows with no education, no job opportunities and children to provide for, have very few options. Shining a Light is changing that and providing them a way to not only earn a living but exposing them to education, opportunities and skills that they can use to care for themselves and their families.

Dorcus worked as a housegirl for many years struggling to keep her children in school and provide them with an opportunity she never had, an education. She came to work with us not only to earn a decent living but to learn the skills she will need to start her own business. She would like to learn how to make clothing and open a store where she can sell her creations. Shining a Light will support Dorcus in her education and her dream of owning her own store! Please help us to support Dorcus and her goals at www.shiningalight.org