Many of our teenagers in Empower Asia are from fractured families – a number have been neglected, orphaned or even abandoned. Over our four countries of operation, clearly some of our girls were seriously at-risk (through no fault of their own) of entering the sex industry, slave labour or other forms of exploitation. Our desire is to first rescue them so that they are safe. From there we can then mentor them over a period of years equipping them with a good level of education.
Empower Asia is a Christian organisation. By definition we believe this means that we respect all peoples’ worldviews and seek to show mercy and kindness to all. Bias should not be displayed towards one gender, culture or belief system over another. We do not believe that the western way is necessarily the best way. With all due care, we believe that consultation, working together in partnership and esteeming one another will bring about the the desired positive results for the communities that we work amongst.
The children in our homes are our kids. They are not merely “students” or “children living in one of our institutions.” They are our kids. And we love them.
Photo Above: Carlie and Dai. Kiwi mum with Thai daughter. The older ones handing on the batten of leadership to the younger ones. All done within a family environment.
Our projects are more than simply social work in nature. We train teenagers over a period of years to become disciplined, passionate and educated men and women who will venture forth to serve their communities with integrity and self-sacrifice.
We specifically work with people groups that currently receive little attention from other organisations, charities or aid/development groups.
Our homes are administered and governed by the local indigenous people.
Rather than recruiting western people to care for our children, our emphasis is on training and empowering key indigenous leaders to care for the needs and development of their own countrymen.
We work hard to send our finances to our partners overseas rather than spending it on excessive costs back in the west.
