Self-Reliance Program
In Pakistan like many poor countries, Christian minorities are often among the most impoverished. To add to their misery, the persecution and discrimination threaten their human dignity and worsen their situation. The misuse of blasphemy laws has increased rapidly in recent years where now several hundred Christian families face fabricated cases, that lead to poverty and challenges that often lead to destruction.
The religious underage girls of minority Christians and Hindus face rapidly increasing cases of rape, forced abduction, forced marriage, and forced conversions. The victim’s family loses their bargaining power due to job loss, increased living expenses, and time lost to tedious court trials. Monetary aid to begin a small business can uplift victims’ families and help them make their daily basic living expenses.
Apart from Nigeria, Pakistan is the only country awarded the maximum violence score by the Open Doors World Watch List because of the high number of Christian women and girls abducted, raped, and forcefully converted. The other contributing cause of this score is the country’s notorious blasphemy laws which remain a constant threat to Pakistan’s beleaguered Christian community. As well, all Christians suffer institutional discrimination.
Canadian Aid to Persecuted Christians’ “Self-Reliance Program” for the persecuted aims at providing needed assistance to cultivate self-support through small business development and thus giving hope to the survivors and/ or the victims’ families.
This year CAPC’s target for June 2023-May 2024 is to raise CAN $32,650 which will enable us to provide a means of livelihood to the suffering families.