The Priscilla Centre, Assam, India
The Priscilla Centre works among women who are, and have been, commercial sex workers, alcoholics, drug addicts, those with HIV/AIDS and early school leavers. The majority of the women come from broken homes, and they are some of the most marginalised of the poor.
The Priscilla Centre works alongside local churches and other women in the community to set up counselling and vocational centres in areas of need. They aim to transform the lives of these women economically, socially, physically and spiritually (discipleship classes). Each new centre is set up with the aim of eventually being self-funding through local donations, volunteers and the sale of their products locally and overseas.
In the mid nineties, Mrs Lucy Engjadim, founder of Priscilla, was challenged regarding the church’s role with the poor. Their grinding poverty seemed to be ignored, and in her life as a Christian she had never come in contact with them. She slowly sought local help and in 1997 the Priscilla Centre was born with 5 sewing machines and only 1000 Rupiah! (about AUS$25). Today there are eight separate projects that support and encourage more than 150 women.
Ms Lalri’s story
Ms Lalri (centre), aged 48, was an alcoholic. Deserted by her second husband, she was left homeless and penniless with three children. She moved from place to place working as a household helper, vending vegetables, selling liquors, and became a mistress for some married men. One of her children lived at an orphanage. Wanting to change her way of life, she came to Priscilla Centre in April 2002, and graduated in March 2003.
Her lingering smile tells us how much her life has been transformed. She is HIV positive but there is no trace of fear or cynicism. Inner healing is visible in her face and works. Physically weak, she continues to work as her health permits her. Ms Lalri said, “If it were not for God and Priscilla Centre, I would have been dead by now without Christ”. She earns income making artificial flowers and knitting stoles, and lives with her two sons in a low cost house built from her savings, on the land given by her church. She is often invited to various churches in her town to share her testimony; many are blessed by her story.
