Why dignified work matters for women

Creative Hands is a project/ business that did not start just because we wanted to do something nice that would make us feel good at the end of the day. My business partner and those who have come alongside us all believe that Human Dignity originates from God and is of God because we all were created un His image and likeness. All human beings have transcendent worth and value that comes from God and when we talk about dignity and the importance of dignified work for women we are recognizing that this work we provide is our way of helping restore their sense of dignity which life situations and experiences has either stolen or destroyed. The dignity we seek to bring through the work at Creative Hands is not based on any human quality, legal mandate or individual merit or accomplishment.

Human dignity matters to all and for our women at Creative Hands we recognize that through the work they do these women have the freedom to seek paths that help them and their children begin the healing process as they integrate into the community.

In the Economic Justice for all #28 it reads, “ When we deal with each other, we should do so with the sense of awe that arises in the presence of something holy and sacred. For that is what human beings are: we are created in the image of God. ( Genesis 1:27)”

When we think of the time we have been working with displaced women and what we have done; we acknowledge that we do not know everything neither have we been perfect in our attempts. We have made mistakes and have acknowledged them when we have become aware but we will not stop trying because women matter to us and their lives matter to us.

We believe that dignified work is more than just earning money, -we give these women a way that helps them in the process of the restoration of self-respect, autonomy and safety when they come through our doors. One of the things we do among many is giving these women an opportunity to have access to the formal economy with proper contracts, which in turn provides legal protection against exploitation and allows for them to exercise rights, including freedom of choice. By doing this we believe that the women who have come through our doors and those who will come are provided a step towards integration within the community. Our goal at the end of the day is that women will transition our of dependency on Humanitarian aid to self-reliance which not only benefits them but contributes to the local community and society at large.

We have always talked about how we want our work to help women rebuild their lives and contribute meaningfully to their host communities, promoting economic resilience and social cohesion. Sometimes these words sound very nice to the ears but in reality sometimes we face resistance from the women we are trying to help because they have become dependent on aid that to believe that they can stand on their two feet is very hard for them. So still run to aid agencies after being the country for many years -10 years or less or even more people are still looking to aid organizations.

Dignity for women means that a space has been created for the women to engage in something that is meaningful, dignified and are able to engage with each other and those they come into contact with and a place where they know and are always reminded that they belong and we want them to know it and experience it. Through Creative Hands we

have watched how our space has been like a rehabilitation space where they can stand and start caring for themselves and those they love most.

We acknowledge that finding meaningful work is almost impossible for most of the women we have served. 95% of our women have either not been to school or even if they went to school they have no skills what so ever, then they have the language barrier, the unfamiliar job markets and many other factors that are contrary to them. We do our best in our work

at Creative Hands to help them women find their place in the community, dignity, independence and their sense of value. Yes we would love to make a profit every year but that is not really what Creative Hands is about- we are about restoring people’s dignity and independence and give them the chance at a life that others take for granted. There have

been times when our hearts have been broken but we will continue doing what we do-One woman at a time restoring dignity, worth and value.

We always tell each that we are all, “ Fearfully and wonderfully made by God who has loved us with a everlasting love”