Helping Vulnerable Women Feel Seen and Loved

In honor of International Women’s Day, Kristy Graham, host of On the Ground with Samaritan’s Purse, highlighted women’s projects and our work around the world in protection programing. Kristy talked with Monica Napier, the global protection technical advisor, who supports Samaritan's Purse field offices and disaster responses in the effort to protect vulnerable women and girls from harm, exploitation, and abuse. She has passionately worked in this area for over 18 years and, in that span of time, she has witnessed God transform countless lives.

“The aim is overall to ensure that we're creating safer environments for those that we've been privileged to walk alongside. And also, just to remind them that they are created in God's image and that we really want them to have their dignity upheld.”—Monica Napier

Samaritan's Purse has come alongside communities, individuals, and families to show them God’s love in tangible ways by creating safer communities built on the foundation of Christ. Monica shared about her most recent trip to Niger where Samaritan’s Purse has recently begun protection programing. She was able to gather with a group of women to learn more about their lives in Niger and discuss stories of women in the Bible.

“The biggest thing that impacts me when I sit on the ground with them is we are just the same. Our hearts need to be loved, to be cherished, to be listened to. That's something that's really struck me recently as I've traveled the globe, whether I've been in Colombia, Niger, the Democratic Republic of Congo. We're the same and it's really precious.”—Monica Napier

The frontline staff serving daily in the field are close to Monica’s heart. She told Kristy a story about a team member who saw a child thrive after reuniting with his family through a reintegration program. It was a blessing for Monica to see her collogue overwhelmed with joy in witnessing this success story.

“I just think of all the program managers that are doing it day in, day out, and they say to me, ‘Monica, I would do this for free. I just love it so much.’ And so, they're my real champions, agents of change. And I just feel what a privilege it is as a technical advisor to walk alongside them, support them, mentor them, and just be there for them in some of their hard, dark days.”—Monica Napier

Next, Kristy spoke with Hanna Mukora, a protection program manager who works in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Hanna’s team targets women who have been displaced as a result of conflict. As they live in camps, Samaritan's Purse works to create a safe space for these vulnerable women and children to participate in vocational training and feel seen and loved as they share about their trauma. Hanna said that at a young age, she felt the calling from the Lord to work in protection, and it gives her peace to come alongside these women.

Hanna told stories of two women who had been impacted through these safe spaces. They were transformed from hopeless, fearful women to daughters of the King with purposeful lives.

“I have also discovered one thing, that despite whichever level we are at, our hearts are the same. It doesn't matter the level of your education, the level of your career, but there is a way that you can humble yourself and be able to connect with that woman that is down there.”—Hanna Mukora

Please pray for Monica, Hanna, and the frontline staff on the ground listening to hard stories of exploitation and abuse every day. Pray that God will protect their hearts and provide them with discernment as they walk alongside others. Pray that God would open more doors for Samaritan’s Purse to continue this protection work in difficult contexts. If you’d like to keep up to date with more stories from on the ground, please visit SamaritansPurse.org.