In 2012, ADI continued to grow and expand its work in Odisha state, caring for families affected by the 2008 riots.
One highlight was establishing the Dorcas Centre for widows, a boarding house and training facility for women who have lost their husbands and homes through violence. Many of these women have only a primary education and have struggled to find work; one of the few jobs available is gruelling manual labour breaking rocks on dirt roads for less than a dollar a day.
The centre supports twelve women and their children at a time, providing a home where they complete a sewing and tailoring training program. On graduating, each woman receives a sewing machine from ADI and help to start a micro-business in her community.
The facility has beds, a kitchen, a training room with twelve sewing machines, and a medical room staffed full-time by a qualified nurse. Women form close friendships as they live and study together.