Words of wisdom

A just reward

Something to read

She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy … 'Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.' Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her a share in the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the city gates.
Proverbs 31:18-20,29-31 (NRSV)

Something to think about

The A-Z of female qualities which began yesterday continues. But now it embraces responsibilities toward women that all the world must share - fair trading rules, just pay for work, concern for poverty, and full recognition.

In Ghana, women who live in Chokomey village have used grants from the Freedom from Hunger Campaign (FFHC, a partner of Christian Aid) to develop a fish-smoking business. Because Ghanaian women play the major role in providing for their families, a secure income is vital.

So members of the Farna Women's Group (it means 'by the river') buy fish from the boats when it is in abundance, smoke them in stoves, and then sell them at the market in Accra. FFHC have developed new stoves which are safer to use and improve the quality of the product. Now the women have not only repaid their loans, but used the profits to build a nursery and a primary school.

Not having a city gate at which to praise these African women, let's use the Surefish website in order to do what the Proverb-writer asked!

Something to do

Find out more about Christian Aid's work in Ghana.

Something to pray

Mother and Father of all people,
For the women whose gender has denied them
promotion or dignity or human rights,
we bring our prayers;
For the women whose gender has enabled them
to create, to inspire and to provide,
we bring our praises.