Grace Center in Ethiopia, founded in 2006 by Naples-native, Marcie Erickson, began with five foster children and now extends its services to over 50,000 individuals annually. Yebizelem’s journey is one example of lives transformed through Grace Center’s mission.

Yebizelem, married off at 13, her husband spent the family’s resources on alcohol and then abandoned her to fend for their six children. Desperate, without any money or source of income, Yebizelem resorted to selling her elder children into slavery. One of her sons pleaded, “Please, if you take me back, I promise, I won’t ever even say that I am hungry.” Then God led Yebizelem to Grace Center. At Grace Center, we rescued all her children, reuniting them with their mother, while also spending time praying with them.

Three of them now thrive at Grace Academy, our tuition-free private Christian school, recognized as the best school in Bahir Dar and the only school in Ethiopia where children learn about the Gospel in school. Notably, Yebizelem’s twins are at the top of their class at Grace Academy!

Her two elder children attend another school due to their age and academic level, as Grace Academy only accommodates students through sixth grade. The youngest child benefits from Grace Day Care, a free program that enables Yebizalem to pursue employment.

Grace Center is the ONLY project of its kind in all of Ethiopia. At Grace Center, we take every individual that comes to us in need and help them reach the goals that God has in mind for them. We can only do this with partners like you!