A ceremony was held in Port-Gentil, Gabon, to award certificates to 35 former detainees who participated in vocational training programs offered by the NGO Prison and Hospital for Jesus Christ. The event, which took place on October 29, 2026, was supervised by the prison administration, led by Jean-Jacques Ona Mbega. The training programs included refrigeration and air conditioning, electrical building, fishing net weaving, and literacy.
One of the beneficiaries, Yvan Ange Mabenda Moussadji, a former detainee who was sentenced to seven years in prison, shared his testimony. During his incarceration, he discovered the Christian faith through prayer sessions organized by the NGO. He also received training in electrical building, which complemented his initial profession as a hairdresser.
Upon his release, Mabenda Moussadji received a donation of hairdressing equipment from the NGO, which enabled him to continue his work in the field. He is now working in a hair salon and has also undergone additional training at the National Employment Promotion Center (PNPE). His story highlights the positive impact of the NGO's initiatives on the lives of former detainees.
The president of the organization, Fostina Ndoumou, stated that the initiatives aim to provide detained individuals with the means to prepare for their return to society. She emphasized that every human being, regardless of the challenges they have faced or the mistakes they have made, deserves to be accompanied on the path to restoration and a new life.
The NGO Prison and Hospital for Jesus Christ was created in December 2022 and provides not only vocational training but also moral, spiritual, and social support to detainees through worship services in prisons. The organization also intervenes on behalf of patients in hospitals. In the long term, it plans to build a transitional reception center for released prisoners to strengthen their skills and facilitate their professional integration.
The NGO's ultimate goal is to favor the personal reconstruction of former detainees and offer them new perspectives for family, social, and professional integration. The organization plans to extend its activities to the nine provinces of Gabon progressively. By doing so, it aims to make a positive impact on the lives of many individuals.
The ceremony was an opportunity for former detainees to testify to the impact of the NGO's actions on their lives. The 35 beneficiaries who received certificates are now equipped with new skills, which will enable them to reintegrate into society and contribute to the country's development.
Key points
- The NGO Prison and Hospital for Jesus Christ provides vocational training and moral support to detainees in Gabon.
- 35 former detainees in Port-Gentil received certificates for completing vocational training programs.
- The organization plans to build a transitional reception center for released prisoners to facilitate their professional integration.
