Transforming Lives in Cameroon
At just 20 years old, Yvana carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. A teen mother who was abandoned with two little children to feed, hunger often knocked at her door, nights were long and filled with tears, and hope felt like a stranger.
This all began to change when she learned about the Divine Sewing School hosted by LHM–Cameroon. This holistic two-year training program empowers young women with practical skills and spiritual nourishment during weekly classes led by the dedicated LHM team that reflect Christ’s ministry of restoration—caring for both body and soul.
Each day begins with a devotion, quiet moments of prayer, Scripture, and reflection. Participation in LHM’s Bible Correspondence Courses further encourage thoughtful engagement with Christian values, enabling learners to discern God’s will in their daily struggles.
Alongside spiritual formation, the program offers vocational training by providing at-risk women with tangible and marketable skills like dyeing cloth, making patterns, and tailoring new clothing. These new skills have led many graduates to open a successful business on their own and achieve their dreams of economic independence.
“Here, I feel at home,” says Yvana. “Here, I am reminded every day that Jesus will never abandon me, even in challenging times. Here, I am learning to dream again.”
Yvana is just one of the program’s many success stories since it debuted in 2013. In March, LHM–Cameroon celebrated the graduation of its 12th cohort of young women from the Divine Sewing School. Each year, 25 young women from Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and even Chad enroll in the two-year program that God uses to completely transform these young women’s lives. By rooting learners in the life-giving Word of God and equipping them with sustainable skills, the program lifts women from vulnerability to dignity and from dependency to stewardship. The young attendees grow in confidence, attain financial autonomy, and learn how to contribute meaningfully to the flourishing of their communities.
Yvana’s journey has not only changed her financial outlook, but it has also led her back to church. On Sundays, she now lifts her voice in worship, her children by her side. “I once thought I was abandoned forever,” she confides, “but now I know I am God’s daughter. The Lord has restored my joy.”