Christian Ministry Changing Lives, One Dress At A Time
A Christian charity has distributed nearly 4 million dresses to girls in need around the world through a campaign that involves various churches and nonprofits in dress-making efforts. The program, called Dress a Girl Around the World and run by Hope 4 Women International (H4WI), has been active since 2009 and has provided over 3 million dresses to date. H4WI President Rachel Eggum Cinader explained that the initiative began after her visits to Uganda, where she noticed many girls wearing worn-out clothing. Inspired by the need, she and her sister Joan started making dresses from pillowcases, teaching women in Uganda to sew them using treadle sewing machines.
As the campaign grew, it became clear that using pillowcases wasn’t ideal, leading to a switch to cotton or cotton-blend fabrics. The program has expanded internationally, with dresses now coming from sewers around the globe. Many volunteers involved in the project have shared how it gives them a sense of purpose, especially women who were previously struggling with depression. These volunteers pray over the dresses and the girls who will receive them, turning the act of dress-making into a form of spiritual support and encouragement.
In addition to providing dresses, the charity uses its distribution efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of human trafficking, educating people about the tactics traffickers use to exploit young girls. One of the churches involved, Oro Valley Church of the Nazarene in Arizona, began sewing for the program in 2012 and has since made more than 28,000 dresses. The church holds an annual “Sew-a-Thon,” where volunteers gather to make over 1,500 dresses in a single day. These dresses are sent worldwide, including to Latin America, Africa, and Asia, where they are distributed by mission teams or through programs like Operation Christmas Child.
Another church participating in the Dress a Girl initiative is Leduc Alliance Church in Alberta, Canada. The church became involved after a couple discovered the program at a church in Hawaii. Volunteers at Leduc Alliance meet weekly to sew dresses and other items like flat dolls for the girls. Over the past decade, they have made or donated over 3,500 dresses, which have been distributed to countries across Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The church emphasizes the spiritual aspect of the program, sharing the message that each dress represents God’s love and care for the girls receiving them.
The Dress a Girl program has grown into a global effort, impacting thousands of girls and spreading hope, love, and faith through simple acts of service. Volunteers continue to sew dresses and pray for the recipients, trusting that their efforts will help transform lives and spread the message of Christ’s love.