News

India Learning Tour

Dina Gonzalez-Piña (WCMCC/US Board member), Laura Schmidt Roberts (MCC Binational Board member), Sheri Plett Wiedenhoefer (WCMCC Executive Director), and Silvia Rios (program partner and former WCMCC Board member) recently took part in a Learning Tour with MCC India. These women were invited to participate in the All India Mennonite Women’s Conference, occurring every three years, that includes women from the Mennonite, Mennonite Brethren and Brethren in Christ churches within India. There was also an opportunity for the West Coast women to visit several MCC projects during their time there.

• Nepali Girls Social Service Centre (An NGO assisted by the MCC Global Family Program)—educating girls along with community development programs, such as income generation, home repairs, nutrition and medical care, and HIV/AIDS awareness.

• West Bengal Voluntary Health Association (MCC project partner)—educating people about HIV/AIDS, while working to reduce the stigma and discrimination surrounding the disease.

• Arunima Hospice(MCC partner)—providing a holistic approach of physical, psychological and social support for those infected with HIV/AIDS.

• Ankurkala (MCC partner)—supporting a sustainable agriculture project while providing a preschool for the children of the farmers.

MCC started working in India in 1942 in response to the Bengal famine. Since then, MCC’s primary strategy in India has been to identify needs and to provide consultative and financial assistance to indigenous registered societies wishing to take up development program or disaster and/or relief responses. Assistance is freely provided without regard to caste, color or creed.