In a mission with Global Women, Misty Granade soon will be teaching Nepalese women to sew.

Misty Granade (Photo contributed)

From Dec. 4-18, Granade will join eight American women at the 777 Sewing School in Pokhara, Nepal.

Headquartered near Birmingham, Global Women is an ecumenical missions movement with an international reach (globalwomengo.org). “Our vision is a world where every woman is empowered by the love of God, valued by her community and equipped to fulfill her unique purpose,” Granade said.

Global Women partners worldwide with “indigenous Christian women leaders and women called to serve outside their native country,” she said.

In 2009, Granade attended Global Women’s annual meeting in Austin, Texas. “I was shocked by the way women are treated around the world,” she said. “The beauty of Global Women is learning about different needs of women worldwide and (focusing) your energy on an area that excites you.”

In 2011, Granade helped in hosting the Summit in Huntsville and coordinated the knitting and crochet project room. “We collected handmade scarves and hats for Crisis Services of North Alabama,” Granade said. “I met president Ann Wilson. She thought my crocheting skills would be a great fit for the sewing school in Pokhara, Nepal.”

Granade’s team for Nepal includes seamstresses, knitters, crocheters, bead-workers and cross-stitchers who will train women in villages surrounding Pokhara, Nepal’s second largest city. They will use treadle sewing machines because electricity is unreliable. Those villagers then will train other women in craft skills to earn a living wage.

A woman born in Nepal is considered “very bad in your previous life. You deserve to be mistreated and abused,” Granade said quoting their host, Sangte Zothansangi. “Nepali women need job skills, mentorship and encouragement. I’m excited to be providing that,” Granade said.

Global Women recommends two books: “Half the Sky” by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn and “When Helping Hurts” by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett.

To donate to Global Women, visit globalwomengo.org.

Global Women’s local chapter meets at Trinity United Methodist Church. For more information, send email to janawilliams@weatherly.org.