Missionaries Gary and Janice Dickinson have been living in Pointe Noire, Republic of the Congo, since 1994. After their two daughters left the Congo to attend college in the United States, Janice felt led to contribute her time and effort towards a new ministry to young women. Due to a prolonged civil war, severe poverty and 80% unemployment, hundreds of young girls have been forced into prostitution, just trying to earn enough money to feed their families one meal a day. These are not hardened, sensual women but young girls who are surviving the best way they know how. Many of these girls will prolong their lives just long enough to contract AIDS or some other deadly STD. Janice decided to spend the rest of her time in Pointe Noire to tackle this issue head on.Janice began by forming close relationships with young girls who were on the brink of entering the prostitution industry or who were already in it. She knew she was doing the right thing when one of these girls told her: “Maman (mother) Janice, if I’d had a mother like you I would never have become a prostitute”.
Her next, “more formalized” effort took the form of a Bible study group for young girls that were at risk of becoming entangled in the prostitution industry. The girls were very receptive to what she was teaching, but during these meetings Janice noticed that the girls were hesitant to participate and refused to read out loud. She found that many of them were illiterate because they had never been able to go to school. Janice thus realized that it was essential for her to start a school for these young girls. So, Nouvelles Créations was born...
Our vision
Our aim is to provide our students with the opportunity to gain skills for a better future for themselves and their families. We also hope to create an environment where the girls are constantly reminded of their value and worth. Essentially, we want to kindle a flame of hope in our students by showing them the love of Jesus, and providing them with a safe place to learn and advance new life skills.
Our aim is to provide our students with the opportunity to gain skills for a better future for themselves and their families. We also hope to create an environment where the girls are constantly reminded of their value and worth. Essentially, we want to kindle a flame of hope in our students by showing them the love of Jesus, and providing them with a safe place to learn and advance new life skills.
Janice is now passing on her sewing and embroidery skills to young women from Pointe Noire. She is attempting to “catch them before they fall” into prostitution, rescuing these young ladies from a life of danger and despair. Nouvelles Créations provides the girls with an opportunity to learn how to read and write, basic math, and additional skills, such as health, hygiene, and nutrition. The school is still in its beginning stages and is only able to help a small group of girls each year. A new building has recently been completed to house the school and a small boutique where the girls sell their creations. With the completion of the new building, we hope to increase enrollment each year as funds allow.Criteria for accepting students
Any girls who have missed out on gaining a formal education are eligible to attend Nouvelles Créations. The only prerequisite is that they are interested in learning and willing to work hard to improve their future.
Products
All the products created by the girls are for sale in the school boutique. Some of our current products include children’s clothing, home décor items such as pillows, curtains, bedspreads, quilts, duvet covers, tablecloths and napkins, and various other household and gift items. The girls also learn basic business skills as they run the boutique.
My Part / Your Part
My assignment as a Missionary Associate will be to assist Janice in this vital ministry. I will live in Pointe Noire and work with these young ladies for two years, beginning in the summer of 2010. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to share my sewing skills and business knowledge with these young ladies. You can help by committing to support me financially, either by a one-time gift, or a monthly pledge. Please keep me in your prayers as I continue to follow God’s leading, and thank you in advance for your support.
My assignment as a Missionary Associate will be to assist Janice in this vital ministry. I will live in Pointe Noire and work with these young ladies for two years, beginning in the summer of 2010. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to share my sewing skills and business knowledge with these young ladies. You can help by committing to support me financially, either by a one-time gift, or a monthly pledge. Please keep me in your prayers as I continue to follow God’s leading, and thank you in advance for your support.
