| Jesus warned that 'the poor will be with you always.' This is obvious in the nation of India, where 26% of the world's poor live. These people exist in the shadow of India's economic development, but often receive little or nothing from it. SPAN is one of the many organisations which reaches out to those who are missing out with love, welfare, employment and education.
The Lord has given us a special concern for the leprosy-affected, who not only suffer horribly from the effects of the disease, but also carry a social stigma which stops them and their children from making progress. We also carry a burden for the children of the poorest, disadvantaged families, through Day Care Centres and children's homes.
Wherever possible, we serve the poor and needy by 'teaching a man to fish' - providing opportunities for the poor to earn income for themselves. This is done through micro-finance schemes, personal loans and development of small scale businesses. |
