Kalampar leads Operation Mercy’s Women’s Empowerment Project (WEP), working with women in the poorer communities of Almaty, Kazakhstan, and the surrounding areas. Some women are divorced, some are single mothers, some are coming out of abusive relationships or live in poverty, and all are given community that comforts and empowers them to rise above their circumstances and learn essential life skills.
The WEP group that Kalampar leads meets once a week and covers different lessons like how to raise a child, spouse relationships, what to do if one’s husband is an alcoholic, boundaries, and self-protection. The women who join the group are typically between 30 and 50 years old and have marital issues, are divorced or are in vulnerable situations.
Overall, WEP groups in Almaty serve around 200 women.
“I think God is using me through my journey and difficulties and deep painful moments now in the women’s empowerment project to help women,” Kalampar said. “I have a passion to help those who are like me. I can share, I can encourage them and also… heal myself with this group together.”
When women join WEP, they share their experiences with each other, encourage one another and share how they won their battles and fought their challenges. The group allows participants to grow their self-esteem, heal from past experiences, learn to respect themselves and release stress.
The project has helped many women, including Jimisilu. After encountering many difficulties in her life, like her husband’s poor health and the resulting financial difficulties, Jimisilu was surrounded by the community of women in WEP. Kalampar helped Jimisilu and gave her the support—both emotionally and financially—that she needed to get back on her feet.
“Women’s Empowerment Project grows capacity,” said Kalampar. “When women come to this group in the beginning, they cry, and they come with depression. A lot of time they are hopeless, but after participating in some lessons, the women start to change their life with each other and they’re encouraging each other.”
Kalampar leads Operation Mercy’s Women’s Empowerment Project (WEP), working with women in the poorer communities of Almaty, Kazakhstan, and the surrounding areas. Some women are divorced,
Together they show and build resilience and hope in each other, through which they can find life.
During the second COVID19 relief distribution we were able to fill 200 bags with 43kgs of staple food, cleaning and hygiene supplies. Our project managers worked together across our four projects – disability,
It’s not only relationships that Alma has grown in, but confidence too.
The women in this group are empowering one another to be peacemakers within their families and communities through sharing their stories and affirming positive change.
Women are finding support and belonging through sharing their stories and pain with their self-help group and hearing the stories and struggles of others.
Our women’s empowerment groups take the form of a lesson on a topic which is relevant to the ladies and then they divide into smaller groups to discuss the topic and share their thoughts and experiences with each other.
Her sister was stunned that Rosa, herself, was willing to assume the shame.