• Why do we long so for women friends?
• Do we need friends like we need air or food or water?
• What causes cattiness, competition, and co-dependency in too many friendships?
• Why do some friendships last forever and others only a season?
• How do I foster friendship?
• When is it time to let a friend go, and how do I do so?

Scarlet Cord Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Overview

In 1987, Tot Heil des Volks started Scharlaken Koord, Scarlet Cord in English, an outreach to women in prostitution. Several times a week, staff and volunteers introduce themselves to girls behind Amsterdam.s famous windows, building a relationship, letting them know they are available for counseling, financial assistance, housing, and providing Bibles and book relaying the story of other women in their circumstances and the freedom they found.

Prevention workers of Scarlet Cord lead workshops at secondary schools and teen clubs in 28 schools throughout Holland, reach over 1500 girl, ages 12-15. They make the girls aware of the dangers and risks of prostitution and discuss the dynamics of a healthy relationship.

Need

The red light district of Amsterdam is world renowned, drawing visitors from around the world. Over 400 windows line the streets, with a woman on display behind each one. Many women are victims of sex trafficking, others were lured in by .lover-boys. through a lengthy and purposeful scheme designed to break them down psychologically and move them in to prostitution. Threatened by their loverboys/pimps, with sizeable debts and no other job prospects, for many women it does not seem to be a viable option for many women to leave the industry.

The Project

Wellspring continues to contribute funds toward Prevention Work in schools, youth clubs, churches, and the community.

We also contribute toward the Outreach program extended to women currently in prostitution.

View Photos from this project.

Little Drops Chennai, India

Overview

Founded in 1991 in a remote, poor and obscure village on the outskirts of Chennai, it began when two childhood friends, Mr. E. J. Paul and Mr. C. Selvaraj Bovas chose to leave their successful business careers to care for the elderly destitute found on the streets, abandoned to live their lives in poverty with no family, care, home or hope. They chose to give them dignity in their life as well as in their death by providing a home and complete care for the rest of their days.

With its name taken from a Mother Teresa quote, "We ourselves feel that what we are doing is only a drop in the ocean, but, if that drop was not in the ocean would not the ocean be less by that missing drop?", today Little Drops provides shelter, basic living needs, and medical care to over 200 elderly people.

Need

Little Drops was operating well over capacity. Many of the elderly, while sick with various ailments, were lying in cots outside in over 115 degree heat. Lack of water was a great problem, and with no legal or suitable burial ground, in the dark hours of the night the staff had to dig up existing graves in order to provide the proper burial so important after death. With the lack of space, it was not possible to provide separate facilities for the terminally ill with contagious diseases from those in stable health. In a two-level building, many of the residents could not climb stairs and so were confined to the upstairs level once placed there.

The Project

In 2005 Wellspring funded the purchase of approximately five acres of land. Beautiful and lush, it provided a private water well system, space for a one level facility and burial ground, and as an added gift, was filled with mango and various fruit trees to provide an additional source of both nourishment and income. Construction commenced soon after, and in 2007 we were joined by over thirty friends from Canada and the United States to attend the dedication ceremony of the property. Complete with separate facilities based on medical care required, a clinic and full-time doctor, bathrooms, and intercom system, over 200 elderly people have a new suitable home.

In addition, Wellspring has provided the facility with a water purification system and in 2009 will be funding the purchase of a generator and fencing for the grounds, as well as contribuing to annual running costs.

View Photos from this project.