Ferentari is the name of the neighborhood where the Naomi Women's Center is located. It is a poor area of Bucharest characterized by trash-strewn streets, homeless dogs, a very large Roma (Gypsy) population, and mostly gray, drab buildings. The Naomi Center strives to empower the women of Ferentari to help themselves and their families by offering counseling and sewing classes. The classes are more than merely instruction. The core group of women have learned to support and care for one another as they run their machines, cut their material, and sew on buttons. This past Sunday we displayed the items made by the Naomi ladies for sale at Providence Baptist Church. There was a general excitement as the members looked over the handmade flower brooches, hair bows, flower vases, and cosmetic bags. One of the customers asked, "Can something so beautiful come out of Ferentari?" Yes, it can and it wasn't even on display. Something beautiful happens every week as the Naomi ladies gather to not just sew but to support one another and improve their lives and with that, those of their families. Beauty from Ferentari...
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