The sewing center in Gabon is a place where women can come to receive sewing training, earn income and find community with other women. The center allows women access to sewing and finishing machines, material and everything they need to learn a new skill that can provide income for the women and their children. The women work on individual projects that they sell at markets and expositions, larger scale projects such as school uniforms and also items that are shipped to the United States, Canada and France for them to sell as well. The ministry started out specific to widows, but includes all needy women who are left out of their society and unable to find employment. The center provides them with one healthy meal per day. The E4 teams provide all levels of training and continue to teach the women there to teach others. The center has a board of directors and a paid manager who runs operations for the center.
There are many women who find it impossible to generate income or find a job once they are widowed. In Africa, being a widow often carries a stigma. In Gabon, the cultural norm for most tribes leaves all of the assets of the husband to his siblings rather than his wife or children who will be removed from their house and not receive any kind of inheritance. This can leave the women destitute and reliant on their birth families for support. If the women have young children to care for, this problem is much worse. Hands of Grace provides a solution for this. The women who lead at the center also serve to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and assist in helping women through hard issues and teaching the women the love of God. Over the years, this has grown into a beautiful example of community and love as the women work together and care for one another.
