Esthers Children

ESTHERS began in 2007 with a vision to prevent exploitation and trafficking of women and children living in vulnerable and at-risk situations globally.  From 2007 until 2010 we had a rescue home in Recife, Brazil where we served 18 girls who were all living in extremely vulnerable conditions.  Today many of those girls are thriving as mothers and micro-business owners.  One of those girls received a scholarship through ESTHERS to finish High School in Michigan at Oakland Christian.  Veronica was the first person in her family to go to High School and after graduating she went on to college where she just finished her Junior year at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and is interning with ESTHERS this summer.  In 2011 we began a community center in Recife where we still serve 45 girls each day through discipleship, counseling, academic tutoring, life skills development and art and culinary classes.  In 2015 we piloted a program to train women in the community in sewing, painting and crochet to start their own micro-business.  Four women have successfully completed this program and received their own micro-business license.  This year we will begin a local program in Clarkston!  ESTHERS Place exists to equip vulnerable teenage girls and young women in the metro-Detroit area through discipleship, life skills training and art workshops to promote healing and an independent lifestyle.  Phase two of this program will offer micro-business opportunities and job training to equip these women to become their own freedom fighter!   Our target population for this program will be teenage girls aging out of the foster care system. 
Having lived in Clarkston my whole life I am excited to start a program locally.  I love being a part of this community because there is a large focus on family, community and serving others.  Joining the Clarkston Chamber has helped us grow as an organization and raise awareness for ESTHERS.  Together we can accomplish so much and Clarkston has always been a community of people that supports one another’s dreams and celebrates their successes!  On June 13th we will be having a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Open House from 4-8 at our new office located at 9539 Dixie Hwy. This will be a family friendly event with a bbq, outdoor games, raffle prizes and a great opportunity to learn more about ESTHERS Place!  On Friday June 21 we will be sponsoring the concession stand for the Concert in the Park at Depot Park.  All donations received at each of these events will be used to help pilot ESTHERS Place this fall!