Who We Are
Hands at Work in Africa (UK) has three primary purposes in order to help care for 100,000 orphans and vulnerable children by 2010:
• education and awareness - through working in the UK with churches, schools and organisations
• fund raising - operating throughout Europe to support projects in Africa
• providing experiences and exchange of skills and expertise in Africa for UK volunteers and supporters
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In the words of Adam: It's all about relationships
Are you considering volunteering with Hands at Work? Have you ever wondered what it feels like to jump into a completely new cultural experience? Adam Bedford, a 22-year-old university graduate from the UK, shares about his experience of the six-week Hands at Work orientation programme for new volunteers. He lives at the Hands 'village' in South Africa.
I first touched down on African soil in April 2010 in beautiful rural Zambia. At the time I was halfway through my studies and the thought of visiting Africa, let alone moving there, was little more than a romantic dream for the distant future. But then, seemingly out of nowhere, a free ticket to Zambia landed in my lap.
The church that my parents were leading had come across an organisation/charity/family - I wasn’t sure what it was back then - called Hands at Work. In the hope of identifying a community they could support they decided to send a small group of five to Africa and asked if I would consider being a part of the team. I don’t remember having to think about it for long.
The two weeks spent in Zambia left an impression on my heart that would leave me restless for a long time. I had stumbled upon God’s heart for the world’s most vulnerable people and discovered this wild group of Christians committed to transforming Africa in His name.
Another year at university passed before God stirred me afresh and I committed to spend a year volunteering alongside this radical family, utterly sold out for God’s vision for Africa. And now, here I am. It feels a little strange being here at last; I’m not sure what I expected.
New volunteers are told to come with no expectations, but of course that’s not easily achieved. The orientation process itself, which entails six weeks of integration into Hands life, was somewhat of a mystery before I arrived. I think I had envisioned something like a tamed SAS training programme in which we would be put through our paces, tested for strengths and weaknesses, emotionally pummelled and, at the end, handed an envelope with our designated assignment in. (Actually, that doesn’t seem too far from reality… Only joking!)
Adam in the communityThese first two weeks of orientation have involved a number of things: First, getting to know an amazing group of fellow ‘newbies’. We are all so different: American, Canadian, British and Australian. Young and old(er). Student and taxpayer. We’re a whole rabble of people with one common thread that pulls us together like nothing else could: We are, all of us, walking in the plans and promises of God. This is, for now at very least, just where He wants us to be.
An amazing thing about these first two weeks of orientation is that we are spending just about every day in the communities in which Hands serve. We are spending every day with the most vulnerable people. We’re immersed in their lives, exposed to their experiences and invaded by their stories.
At first it was a little difficult; none of us were too sure how to interact with kids and care workers whose language we didn’t speak. The very first day I decided to show off my Siswati (a local language spoken in the communities) and so when it was my time to introduce myself to the care workers I stood up and said a wholehearted Siswati greeting. I took their laughter as affirmation that they were impressed. I later learned that I had used the wrong word entirely. But everybody here has outstanding grace. So much of what they involve us in they could do better and with less hassle without us.
Adam chatting to a care giver in the communityOne day they let me ‘help’ them weed. That day I learnt that a cauliflower is, in fact, not a weed. Like I said, they could do it better without us. But here in Africa, that’s not the point. The point, the whole point, is to build relationships. In Hands-life that ethos is powerfully evident.
I’m learning what it looks like to be plunged into a brand new culture, a way of life, an ethos and a value system that I felt altogether unprepared for. Yet the community of which I have become a part is far more a family than a charity, far more an organism than an organisation. We are walking together with one vision, one purpose and one passion.
It takes some time to believe that you could possibly bring anything to this wonderful work, but every day I’m reminded of the promise of God whispering: “You didn’t choose me, I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.”For now, I’m just setting down my roots.
There are angels in Chilabula
Ken Donaldson is Head of Missions at Greenfinch Church in Ipswich. Here, he tells the story of his recent trip to Zambia.
'A year ago the opportunity to visit a “Hands at Work” conference and their operations in Zambia was handed to me, a gift which I unwrapped with enthusiasm and the deepest gratitude. They say that Africa can get under your skin. Three years in Kenya in the late 1980s left me with that feeling and so when my church, Greenfinch Church in Ipswich, UK, invited me to lead a team to Chilabula last year, a community in the Copperbelt that our church is now linked with, I offered minimal resistance. But enough of me.
Last year I met Grace. The rural community of Chilabula, numbering 2500 people and covering many square kilometres, is home to people whose lives are dependent upon the land. Poor growing conditions, lack of land, lack of energy because of lack of food, lack of education, lack of clean water, lack of healthcare, lack of transport.....lack of all that we take for granted in the UK......means that the HIV virus has had ripe territory in which to infiltrate and devastate. The resulting lack of a middle generation is evident as Grace’s circumstances give testimony to.
Grace, at four years old, lived a long way from the centre of her community. She was in a very neat thatched dwelling surrounded by a small amount of groundnut plants, maize and sweet potatoes. An avocado tree stood nearby and the scene could have seemed idyllic to the uneducated. Warm and quiet, peaceful and unhurried. Through the Hands at Work care workers with whom I was visiting, I spoke with Grace’s mother in whose arms she lay. Grace was not well. She coughed harshly and her skin shone with a veneer of perspiration. Her eyes were closed at times, lost in her own world of what thoughts? I wanted to know more about Grace to understand her circumstances. Through the care workers, my assumptions were turned on their head. This was not her mother. Grace lay in the arms of her aunt. Both Grace’s parents had died because of AIDS. Today Grace was lying weakly and without energy, riven by tuberculosis. Serenely and with the deepest, humble care, the community care workers gently exuded Christ to aunt and niece, offering love through their prayers, their careful touch, the offering of a little food and some clothing donated from the UK. And then the care workers, perhaps protecting me a little but feeling they had to tell me, broke news which broke me. That day, test results had confirmed that little Grace was HIV positive. It was hard not to cry, hard not to run off to find a quiet place to howl out the very real and painful anguish which struck so very deeply. Grace was beautiful, her innocent little life and body ruined....her innocent little life and body ruined.
How do you walk away from that, back to the UK and to material comfort, health and self-sufficiency? Walking away was and is so difficult – heart wrenching as many others can testify. What was most difficult was to walk away from people whose experience of self-sufficiency was so limited and for whom trust in God was so natural. Back to an environment where trust in God is so limited and self-sufficiency so natural. I walked away from Grace, my heart heavy, realising that her little life was probably only going to last a few short months more. Death is so much a part of life amidst a people and a place of divine beauty.
And so I returned to my life in the UK, back to “my world”. But I will never forget Grace. Her face will always be etched in my memory – her photo on these pages one that is in my head forever.
But walking away is not an option. Last month I returned to Zambia taking a new team to visit Chilabula. What differences I found there, what encouragements! The care workers showed me a new borehole supplying fresh water to the community; a new care centre had been funded by a partner from where the care workers now feed the many orphans who receive the three essential services from their Hands at Work partners; tomato plants are growing where before there had only been dust, the community (young and old alike) watering them daily. How fantastic to see a community beginning to develop and that on the back of the deepest faith and commitment from care workers offering everything they can from almost nothing. Living sacrifices. Imitating Christ.
Some children smiled and hopped about us, dancing with joy, revelling in our smiles, keen to see our digital photos of themselves. And I thought of Grace. When had she died? Did she ever experience this joy? Would anyone be able to tell me? I looked around at these children, but someone caught my eye, one of the children engaging my memory bank - a familiar shape of head, a familiar face – there before me stood Grace. To say my heart leapt is wholly inadequate. I learned that Grace now has anti-retroviral treatment which will extend her life and the Hands at Work care workers look out for her needs. She sat with me for a while. Some photos were taken and smiles asked for. Grace offered her best smile but as she did I realised with great discomfort that as she smiled, her mouth altered, but her eyes didn’t. What was going on behind them? Grace’s experiences were so much more than I knew anything about, her pain and hurt an unknown, maybe even to her.
How would you define Grace’s story? Is it a success story? How do you measure success? For me the most important thing I witness in Chilabula is the offering of grace, of a Christ-like attitude from a community of care workers that can change the poorest person’s transient journey of pain and hunger into an eternity of heaven. There are angels about in our world. I’ve seen them in Chilabula.
Ken Donaldson April/May 2011
A Pastor's Story
Chris Bedford is Senior Pastor at Greenfinch Church in Ipswich. A team from his church recently visited the Chilabula community in the Copperbelt region of Zambia and this is his story:
I guess there are just a few moments in life when something strikes you so hard that you feel totally powerless and useless.
Cue day 2 of my fortnight in Zambia, visiting homes in Chilabula, the village that our church has “adopted”. The harsh realities of everyday Zambian life hit me today like a runaway freight train.
Several homes had been visited the day before and already today – what was immediately noticeable was that there was a distinct lack of young men everywhere we went. All the families visited were led by women and the 20 to 45 year old men were simply missing. There was talk about how many had been lost to illness (no-one ever mentioned “HIV”).
It had the potential to be overwhelmingly sad and yet somehow it didn’t hit home that hard.
Then it happened. Having walked quite a way through the bush we arrived at a clearing where a typical African house was located - straw roof, mud walls, surrounded by a sandy, barren area. On the sandy ground lay an older man, unkempt and distinct for wearing a huge thick coat despite the fact that we sweltered in the 33 degree heat.
He sat up but wasn’t for talking much. This part of his story was that he had been left to bring up 4 children, despite the fact that he blatantly struggled to look after himself.
Two of the children were being “sponsored” by our church so a worker was dispatched to find them.
Duly they trooped in to the clearing.
Just that morning we had played with kids who looked the same - no shoes, ragged clothes, but who played with great joy and gusto and huge smiles. These 2 were different - shoulders slumped and deadpan faces. They sat down and we tried to engage them in a game of “catch ball”.
Eventually there was the merest flicker of a smile from David, a 6 year old boy. No more than a flicker and yet enough to stir hope in me for him.
Stephen was a different story. Just 3 years old, his face never changed. It is hard to describe – it was sullen, fearful, confused, even morbid. There was nothing that was going to crack this face. Nothing.
Then the harsh truth emerged – his mother had died 3 months ago – leaving him with 3 older siblings and a grandfather.
How does a 3 year old even begin to comprehend where mum is, who will take of him, where his next meal is coming from? Perhaps even worse, where does he get hugs from and who kisses him goodnight?
I could try to rationalise it by acknowledging that we help provide food, education and medicine for Stephen but it makes no sense when you look into the eyes of a confused, frightened, lonely child.
Stephen broke my heart.
Can we stand by and simply watch this happen? As Matt Redman wrote “there must be more than this”.
Mark 9:37 (The Message). (Jesus speaking): “Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and far more than me – God who sent me.”
A partner's story
Monday, 16 May
Becky Green is Missions Leader at The Forge Church, Stowmarket, Suffolk, which has been partnering with Hands for several years. Here, she tells her story about her recent trip to Zambia.
‘In April, I had a non-stop crazy week in Zambia with my travel buddy Wendy.
It was a great week but one experience I will not forgot for a long time is staying with a family in the community. We’d been warned this could be a difficult experience where we would be totally out of our comfort zones. No running water, no bed and possibly no toilet. The only guarantee was an insight into real community life.
So Saturday afternoon we headed to a nearby community called Tehila (think Tequila). Dyness, our host, told us her home was a short walk away from the church where we met, so laden with bags and groceries we headed off in the scorching heat. 45 minutes later we arrived at her home. If I’m honest neither Wendy nor I would have made it much further, and we weren’t even carrying the bulk of our stuff.
At her home we were pleasantly surprised how lovely it was. Dyness had obviously gone to a lot of trouble cleaning and sorting in preparation for us. We were quite prepared to slum it for the night but it turned out we didn’t have to! We were shown to our own bedroom where we had a bed complete with mosquito net, there was a bathroom with a standard toilet (it didn’t flush mind) and a small kitchen area. The lounge was furnished with a red three piece suite and a coffee table that you would easily find in Ikea. A long way from the hut we imagined.
Dyness’ household is made up of her, her husband, six children and her husband’s grandmother. So the house was quite full for the night. In the early evening we all congregated outside and started to prepare the supper. They intended us to do the cooking but soon realised that after watching my attempt to cook nshima (porridge like maize) they were far more capable. I did have to giggle when Wendy, a vegetarian, had to consume the sausage that was given to us.
The younger boys thought everything we did and said was hilarious. They had us learning Bemba but found that just as funny. The evening went on and we appeared to be the local entertainment. Every five minutes or so more people would show up to see the Muzungus (white people). Night time came and as we headed to bed the family continued clearing up and tidying the home.
The next morning, Dyness was up at 5am sweeping the house, boiling water for our baths and laying out breakfast. We were truly treated like royalty. My good friend, Dan Waspe, had kindly demonstrated a bucket bath to us the day before – has to be the funniest thing I have seen all year but then it actually came to having one. We were so fortunate to have hot water but it was quite an experience standing in a concrete tray with a bucket of hot water. The bathroom did have a door of sorts, for which we were thankful, but a lot of giggling was going on behind that door so I would question the privacy of said bathroom.
We were then treated to peanut butter on bread and shortly headed off to the 4 hour church service but I’ll leave that story for another day.
I loved spending time with Dyness and her family. They taught me so much in such a short time. I don’t think I have ever met such hardworking and hospitable people, who despite adversity just kept on giving. I can only hope to treat others like she treated us and to make the sacrifices she makes in order to bless others.
Thank you, Dyness.
Is this the way to Amulo? (ZAM) (UK)
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
Leon Evans, a good friend of Hands and senior pastor at Zion Christian Centre in the UK, wrote about his recent trip to Zambia with Hands at Work on his blog.
"Is this the way to Amulo?" Sounds like a really annoying song that was out (again) a few years ago. Actually, it was what I found myself saying quite a lot in a car whilst bouncing on roads, that had more potholes than road, just outside Kitwe in the Copperbelt mining region in central Zambia.
My wife, Allison, and I had just left a conference hosted by Hands at Work, an amazing organisation - actually, more of a family - who support projects all across sub-Saharan Africa that are actively reaching and serving widows, orphans and vulnerable children. Now the conference was over and we were off to Amulo for a community stay: the chance to stay with a local household and spend 24 hours with a family.
When we finally found Amulo, we found a community of around 3,000 people: no school, lots of child-headed households, widows, orphans, young men who were drunk at three in the afternoon and, at first sight, what appeared to be a hope-forsaken place.
As we walked the streets with Pastor Boyd and another church leader (Webby), our impression began to change. Here were men who loved God and who loved people, who made friends with drunks and those who were sick and dying. We discovered home-based care workers (volunteers) who had nothing themselves, but gave everything. We played with kids who had no shoes, but had the life of Christ in their eyes.
After we had walked the community, we had a meal with the pastor and his wife and were captivated by their beautiful two-year-old daughter whose name meant "peace". We’d been taught how to "bucket bath" and so were apprehensive, but ready. What we were not prepared for was sitting down together after dinner and the pastor saying, "Do you know we have relatives who won’t visit us because of where we live, but you have come from the UK and are willing to stay in our home. This is a privilege for us!" There were tears in his eyes!
We were speechless: we were the ones who felt honoured. The privilege was ours to spend 24 hours in the home of this family. It is something that will live with us for a very long time. The grace we encountered, the spirit of service and sacrifice was both humbling and inspiring.
Now, as we as a church embark on a journey with this community, we pray that we will meet Christ more and more as we look into the eyes of the child, the widow, the vulnerable and the amazing people who are responding to the call of God and bringing hope and help to places like Amulo.
We pray that more and more churches find an "Amulo" and begin a journey of transformation and hope.
No longer shall they be nameless
Danny and Kim reunited
Kim Burgess, a Forge Church (UK) volunteer, recently wrote to Hands at Work: In 2008 she had an unforgettable experience in Luanshya, Zambia. We'd like to share her story with you here.
In 2008 I met a 14-year-old boy who changed me.
Danny Longwani.
He came to the week-long camp in just the clothes he was wearing. He was quiet, guarded and unsure. He was the oldest in the group of children I was working with and whilst he helped with the younger ones, I could see real pain in his eyes. It was haunting.
One evening he came to me with a broken, plastic flip-flop in his hand. He had no other shoes. I tried at first to mend it with string, but then got angry: Danny deserved shoes! Fortunately, I was able to get him a pair that fitted from one of our team members. He was so happy about his 'new' shoes, you would have thought I'd given him the world, not a hand-me-down!
He began to trust me and told me his story. He was going to Ebenezar Community School set up by Hands. He was living with his uncle who didn't have the means to feed him, so his grades were dropping as he had to spend his time trying to find food. His story broke my heart. He was a young boy who, through no fault of his own, had no shoes on his feet and no food to eat. That's just not right!
Fast forward 2 years: I returned to Zambia with my husband, Dave, and our three children Rosie, Molly and Thomas.
I knew I wanted to find Danny who would now be 16-years-old. I had not forgotten him. I went out one day with a Hands team to visit people near Ebenezar School. To cut a long story short, I found a teacher from the school who knew where Danny lived. Now I knew he was still alive!
I was directed to where he was doing 'piece work'. I wasn't sure that Danny would remember me - I just wanted to see him again. When Danny spotted me, he ran toward me. We hugged and I fought back tears. Danny, with the biggest smile, chatted incessantly about the camp he had been on 2 years ago.
Hands has made a made an amazing difference in Danny's life: He had been cared for and educated. In turn, Danny has made an amazing difference in my life and, I'm sure, many others with whom he has shared his story.
Hands at Work, keep going with your work and may God continue to bless you.
No longer shall the poor be nameless. - Psalm 9:18 (The Message)
George soon to hit the UK
Friday, 14 October
Hands at Work founder, George Snyman, has kicked off his six-week tour of the UK, Canada and the USA. He will be speaking at a number of churches during his visit. Not to be missed!
Have a look below for the dates and venues of the UK leg of the tour. Canada and USA tour details soon to follow.
George and his wife, Carolyn, on the airwaves!
George and Carolyn will be interviewed on Premier Christian Radio on Saturday, 23 October.
Time 08.25am
You can listen in London on Medium Wave 1305, 1332 and 1413, nationally on Sky Digital 0123, Freeview 725 and DAB. You can also listen online.
George's other speaking engagements:
Date Saturday, 23 October
Venue St Luke’s Church, Cell Barnes Lane, St Albans AL1 5QJ
Time Afternoon service
Date Sunday, 24 October
Venue The Forge Community Church, The Old Chapel, Forward Green, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 5HP
Time 09.30am and 11.30am services
Date Monday, 25 October
Venue Greenfinch Church, Greenfinch Avenue, Ipswich, Suffolk IP2 0SQ
Time 07:30pm
Date Sunday, 31 October
Venue Zion Church, Little Cornbow, Halesowen, West Midlands B63 3AJ
Time 09:00am and 11:00pm
Our second visit to KaPhunga
By George & Sheila Green
It was 2007 when we first travelled to Swaziland and met Nomsa Lukhele, and had the privilege of being the first to stay in her ‘guest house’. We were made to feel at home and part of the family and so were thrilled to be able to visit again this May. We travelled with Sandy, Sam and Robyn on this occasion and yet again received a marvellously warm welcome although things were tinged with sadness as her husband, Samuel was so ill.
During our visit there was a 2 day course for orphans and vulnerable children, (OVCs), arranged by Nomsa, where government officials and police officers, with some input from Save the Children, spoke to over 130 OVCs about various things affecting their well-being, like HIV/AIDS, physical development, child abuse and human trafficking. ASB’s role, in which we played a part, was to transport children to the community building, feed them, and arrange for many of them to stay overnight.
We too learned much, but there were two big lessons:
Firstly, we saw the significance of food in the lives of these OVCs. Many other children from poor families turned up, knowing that there would be food at such an event. ASB had budgeted for orphans, so the volunteers had to identify and list the orphans in their care, so that they were fed first. No-one refused any food offered, even though every part of the chickens went into the pot. By ‘pot luck’ you could end up with a head or a foot.
Secondly, some orphans lived over 20km away. Vehicles were needed. Last year’s gift from the government – a second-hand Nissan Combi with a broken starter motor – is ASB’s only vehicle. It climbed mountains, juddered and skated along rock-strewn, rutted roads, and needed a push to start it. When George first drove it, he had 29 people on board. Another vehicle, an Isuzu pick-up (bakkie,) got a puncture as he was taking 9 orphans home – as it got dark, on a rocky mountain road, with a round trip of over 40km to do. Transportation affects both rural poverty and mortality in Africa.
Food security is the primary issue for ASB, with over 1,500 OVCs needing support. In the last year they have been given new maize fields, have built a drying crib and maize store, and have had a successful harvest. However, the climate is not consistent year to year, and maize is a fussy crop (introduced by colonists.) The poultry project has not been very successful. It takes time to build up the skills and experience needed to give a consistent supply of chickens and eggs to eat, all around the scattered community. Food is in short supply for humans, let alone chickens.
As well as these our few days were full and so we returned with many more memorable moments ~ fetching cabbages to ensure the orphans ate well, meeting the team of carers at a meeting, but above all we will always remember our times of family prayer for throughout our stay, although Samuel remained ill each evening we were welcomed into the family for hymns of praise and this special time of prayer. To have taken him to hospital with the vehicles available, and the state of the roads, could have led to his death on the journey or in the hospital. Instead he died in peace and dignity with family and friends around shortly afterwards. This illustrates why many Ka Phunga patients are treated either too late or not at all. Life expectancy is below 40 and one in ten Swazi babies dies before age 5 years.
Hands at Work in Africa and a small church (Swaziland)
Our church, St John’s Heath Hayes, had the pleasure in February, of a visit from George Snyman. For two years now, St John’s has supported Hands at Work in Africa, with a particular interest in Asondle Sive Bomake in Swaziland. This link developed when my wife, Sheila and I visited Ka Phunga and worked very briefly with Nomsa Lukhele.
We have at times felt embarrassed that our church’s donations are quite small in proportion to the needs we saw. However, through the texts and emails which pass to and fro between Swaziland and Heath Hayes, we have come to realize that our prayers, our continued interest and our telling others about ASB mean as much to Nomsa as the money we give. It is also surprising how far, what seems to us a small amount of money, goes.
Some people in UK are suspicious that aid given to Africa is ineffective; that you don’t know that it gets to those who really need it. Our communications and contacts with Hands have been so good that we can truly say where donations go, and demonstrate to others the results.
And we really believe that St John’s benefits too from the relationship. There are many small churches like ours, with elderly congregations, (more pensioners than wage earners.) These, often rural churches, can start to look inwards. We are determined to keep looking outwards: That’s our mission. Yes, we need to raise funds to keep our own church going, but Hands at Work reminds us what we are here for, and how we can effectively be neighbours to people on the far side of the world.
In this age of Sunday shopping, and a range of activities for children to choose from on a Sunday – football, horse-riding, theatre group, -- we continually need to reach outwards to children and young people in our communities. Thanks to Hands, we are able to go into local schools, do assemblies, and teach about Africa, about aid, and about how Christians express their faith in action. These are subjects which many teachers appreciate help in delivering. So, our church plays the role of servant, in more than one way.
George Green,
Member of St John’s Church,
Heath Hayes, Staffordshire, UK
Training Community School Teachers in Zambia (Zam)
For the last five years now, Heather Lawrence has spend part of her summer holiday training teachers from the Community Schools we support in Zambia. In previous years , she has worked with teachers from the Luanshya area at Kachele farm, but this year, three others from the UK delivered a programme to these teachers designed to enable Lead Teachers to train others in their community and further afield. It has been immensely encouraging to see how these Lead Teachers have grown in confidence and skills since Heather's firet visit in 2005. They continue to listen to new ideas and take on board all suggestions readily. It is heartening to see they have implemented previous suggestions, adjusting them to suit their own circumstances.
From left to right: Blue, Jayne, Jo and Heather with Luanshya teachers
With Luanshya covered, Heather was able to train a group of teachers from Kitwe, north west of Luanshya. Most of these teachers are young but tremendously passionate about their pupils and their ability to teach them more effectively. It is hoped that the Lead Teachers in Luanshya will be able to include the Kitwe group in their future training.
On this trip, also for the first time, Heather trained a group of teachers from the schools we support in Kabwe. Here again the teachers were very enthusiastic to learn more and were especially keen to have resources to enable them to teach adults to read and write.
Heather with community school teachers in Kabwe
It is encouraging that we have donors in the UK who give faithfully and regularly towards providing monthly incentives for these incredible volunteers in Zambia. However, the number of teachers is increasing all the time so we are always looking for new sponsors so that all teachers will receive an adequate incentive for their selfless work.
Items for prayer:-
- funds to cover the extra teachers and the increase in food and fuel costs
- the health of the teachers and pupils
- the organisation and dispatching of resources out to Zambia
- the ability to provide the specific resources requested such as reading and writing materials for adults
- a volunteer to work with the teachers for an extended period of time
Church Team Trips to Zambia During 2009 (UK)
During 2009 between April and August, four teams from Zion Christian Centre, Halesowen and The Forge Church, Stowmarket visited some of the CBOs supported by Hands at Work in the Luanshya area of Zambia. Zion has been partnering with Hands and sending teams for the last 5 years and the partnership with The Forge has been running for the last two years, the latter taking more of a leadership role this year. The focus of the four teams was rural development, healthcare, a children’s camp and teaching teachers.
Rural Development
This team focused on rural development and building work. They ran a 2-day training session at Kachele Farm for 19 Zambians using the ‘Farming God’s Way’ programme. They were able to introduce more hens to the farm, a stock of food and provision for safe storage. They also built a compost bin and bought Moringa trees to be planted out later. 
On the building side, the team carried out school roof surveys at Mwaiseni, Chibuli and Maria Chimona; built roofs at 2 of the schools and left trusses left. They discovered that the well at Chibuli was not working and were able to carry out a repair.
Healthcare
The healthcare team carried out 2 days of training for a total of 86 teachers, volunteers and HBC workers on caring for children experiencing grief. 607 children took part in a de-worming programme in 9 different schools, and 208 pairs of glasses were given out to teachers, youth workers and HBC Workers.
Children’s Camp
The children’s team ran two, week long, activity camps for 30 children including games, crafts, music and teaching on healthcare issues such as malaria and nutrition, the main aim being for the children to have a break from their usual routines and have the opportunity to be ‘children’. They also visited 3 local community schools to encourage volunteers, assess the current situation and leave resources. The team also left a gift to finish off the well at Maposa School. 
Teaching Teachers
The teaching team ran training sessions for 15 teachers covering a wide range of themes such as: learning styles, how to teach adults, presentation skills, lesson planning, child protection, and the psycho-emotional development of children. The teaching team was at the farm at the same time as the children’s camp and so was able to support the children’s workers and join in on the camp. 
All the team members on the trips also took part in Home Based Care Projects, which gave them an opportunity to see life in the local communities.
At Hands at Work, we are very excited about the development of this cutting edge partnership, which has also led to 2 couples from The Forge moving to The Hub to serve as long-term volunteers. We continue to work together to take this incredible expression of servanthood to new levels.
CRY from the Mountain Tops (Swaziland)
The Three Peaks Challenge
A certain young man said, "Dad, can we do the Three Peaks?" It is 20 years since a group connected to St John’s Church, Heath Hayes (near Cannock, Staffordshire in the UK) did the ‘The Three Peaks Challenge’ to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis. The challenge involves climbing the highest mountains in Scotland (Ben Nevis), England (Scafell Pike) and Wales (Snowdon).
So, a new group of men, aged from 18 to 63, met to plan and prepare. The group included George Green who, with his wife Sheila, has served Hands at Work for a number of years in the UK and made several trips to Africa, visiting CBOs supported by Hands in Masoyi (South Africa) and Swaziland. They decided to support two charities. The title, ‘CRY from the Mountain Tops’ encompasses both of these: CRY(Cardiac Risk in the Young), and ‘Asondle Sive Bomake,’ Home Based Care in Swaziland, ‘the Mountain Kingdom.’ ASB is a CBO supported by Hands at Work.
The 11-strong team, with another friend accompanying them as driver and support, drove up to Fort William, Scotland. They set off from Glen Nevis in good weather in the early afternoon of the following day, and approaching the top, walked into cloud, icy wind, hail and snow. It was hard to see the marker cairns in the deep snow. The rocky platform at the summit had beautiful ice sculptures, carved by the salty wind.
As they left the summit of Ben Nevis at 5:00pm, the cloud parted and, looking back, they saw the magnificent snow cornices, overhanging the cliffs; a danger for those who do not keep to the path.
They drove through the night to the Lake District. Having made good time, they tried to sleep for an hour. It was dark and pouring with rain. Somehow they had to find boots, full waterproofs, snacks and water to get ready to start Scafell Pike as dawn crept slowly over the hills. Stiff limbs were reawakened and, short of sleep and energy, they began the long, slow climb. The rain eased but they soon met their familiar companions, icy wind and snow. Scafell’s upper slopes are strewn with large boulders, ready to twist or trap ankles. The weather brightened, giving them good views as they descended by a different route with scree slopes and a little bit of rock climbing for a change.
The Lake District was now in full ‘Holiday’ mode, hindering their fast progress. There were several hundred marathon runners on a narrow road, and convoys of day-trippers driving slowly.
Reaching the foot of Snowdon, with sunshine and a sheltered climb ahead along the miners’ track, they had a range of motives: the youngest were intent on a speedy finish; the eldest and some first-timers, (who thought they were out of energy,) were just intent on finishing. It is experience that tells you that your body does have reserves of energy for times like this. The team stood together at the top of Snowdon at last. No snow! Just a beautiful view, with the sun setting to the West and the moon rising in the East, gently to light their descent.
All of us at Hands are immensely grateful to the team, to its sponsors and especially to God for enabling the team to enjoy His dangerous creation and putting a smile on His face.
They raised £1,453.50 for Asondle Sive Bomake, more than is shown on the cheque in the picture below because extra donations were received after the event.
Can we really make a difference?(SA)
Monday, June 29, 2009 at 12:45PM
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A number of years ago, Locks Heath Free Church was challenged to respond to the world-devastating effects of HIV/AIDS. For years we had financially supported organisations such as BMS (Baptist Missionary Society) who care for those in need, and due to the far-reaching effects of HIV/AIDS, were undoubtedly helping thousands suffering from this deadly disease. However the call of God was clear – we needed to do more - to care, to love, to take action.
Our response was to partner with Hands at Work in Africa, and in turn we were introduced to a very poor community in South Africa called Belfast. When the first team visited in February 2008, we met over 30 local ‘grannies’ who despite their own clear poverty, were daily visiting and caring for the orphan, widowed and poor in Belfast. For the past five years these ladies have chosen to respond to the call of God and were caring for those living under the shadow of the HIV/AIDS virus and its dispassionate theft of life.
We now had the opportunity to partner with these amazing ladies; to encourage them, work along side them and help enable them to make a bigger difference in Belfast.
During our first visit we sought to learn, to encourage, to give – we visited many in the community and helped fence a compound for the ladies to call their home. This compound was a place for them to meet, to grow crops for the poor and hopefully one day to accommodate a number of buildings to provide crèche facilities for those with nothing, a feeding programme base camp and a safe place for child headed households to find practical love. Another planned element of the compound was to drill a bore-hole to provide a vital element of survival – clean water.
During our visit in February 2009, we were heartbroken to see that the compound had reverted to a thoroughfare for cattle and people because local herdsmen had torn down the fence.
However the ladies were still there, still serving, still loving those with nothing. As we talked and listened we discovered the ladies were also very upset about the fence - they had spoken to local police, the local chief and called for a community meeting so the chief could tell the community to show respect. They were serious about caring for the poor!
We assured the ladies that we were not planning on walking away (as they had feared). We told them our commitment was to them and not the fence - the fence could easily be restored. We told them that they were the hands and feet, the eyes and ears of God in Belfast. They cheered and clapped in response to the fence being restored – a humbling experience for they were the ones who deserved the applause. This project is not about a fence, a compound or a building, but a heart response to God's call to care for the poor.
By the middle of March the fence was restored and now crops grow; tended by grannies and orphans, growing food to sustain life. We’ve also funded a feeding programme, targeting the 50 most vulnerable children in Belfast – making a real difference.
The bore-hole on the other hand is proving more difficult. Having gained permission to drill a bore-hole, having secured funding (from generous giving by people at LHFC and restored the fencing, drilling commenced in May 2009 – but heartbreakingly no water was found! We are still discussing alternative solutions, however in the meantime the ladies collect the water, ensure crops grow, feed the poor and bring people hope.
What next? We keep supporting, praying, encouraging, visiting, serving and giving to make a difference in this community. In October 2009, another team from LHFC fly out to do precisely that – telling these amazing ladies that they are making a difference, that they are not crazy to care for the poor, they are not forgotten, they matter to God and to us.
Make a difference; pray for the ladies in Belfast – Doris (team leader), Ruth, Elisa, Dinah, Tryphina, Linneth, Betty, Renail, Sarah, Anna, Nancy, Violet and Renee – to name just some of them!
Mark Madavan
Senior Minister, Locks Heath Free Church, Fareham, UK
"No longer will the poor be nameless" Psalm 9v17
Tuesday 04Nov
UK College Impacting Community Schools(ZAM)
Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at 12:51PM
Halesowen College Child Care Students’ Project for Community Schools in Zambia
Hands UK Chairman, Nick Lawrence, and his wife, Heather, who has been training community school teachers in Zambia for the last 4 years, recently attended a presentation evening at Halesowen College. During the academic year 2007-08, students in the Child Care & Education department created a wide range of educational resources to be sent to the community schools we support in Zambia and also put on several fundraising events. The picture shows Nick & Heather receiving a cheque for GBP 1,305.78 from Diane McCathie, Student Support Director at the College.
We are sincerely grateful to all the students for their hard work and, in particular, to Gill Pendry for co-ordinating the project. The College will be undertaking another project during the 2008-09 academic year as we continue to build on this excellent partnership.
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Tuesday 20May
Head Shave forHands
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 07:57AM
A long-time Hands at Work supporter shaves his head in support of a Hands at Work project. See the video:
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Thursday 10Apr
OnTour
Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 03:26PM
George Snyman, founder of Hands at Work in Africa, is touring North America and the UK over the next month and a half. If you are interested in a more detailed itinerary with all the locations that George will be speaking at please email: lynn@handsatwork.org.
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Thursday 07Feb
UK summer newsletter2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008 at 09:09AM Christmas in May in Swaziland • Spend two weeks in Africa • UK represented at African Leaders and International Conferences 2008 • British schools help with GoLD future in South Africa • From Halesowen to Africa - college students link with Zambia schools
• Regular monthly giving • Financial Statement for first 17 months as a registered charity • Your Will, Their future - a legacy from you will be such a welcome gift to ensure a future of hope and fulfilment for those affected • Schools Service - From infant classes to agricultural students, talks are tailored suitably • Hairless for Hands! GBP1395 raised! Forthcoming fundraising events: throw yourself off St Peter’s Church for Hands at Work Abseiling with local scouts - “hands...at work... in Africa” photo exhibition - “An evening of Words and Music” - performed by singers of the much acclaimed Midlands Chorale and The Keele Poets - whose poetry reaches parts of your soul no-one else ever has • Christmas is coming...
Give someone something useful this Christmas. Now you can make a difference to the lives of those affected by HIV/AIDS - and give it as a present to someone special! • Progress in Nigeria - Local managers report in Nigeria on our Lagos Home Based Care (HBC) Programme, and helping commercial sex workers tackle the daily problems of HIV/AIDS at Isolo. We include some stories of children given new hope by volunteers on our Community Based Organisation (CBO) Hands at Work | Post a Comment | Share Article in (UK)
Tuesday 14Aug
Hands at Work in UKVisit
Tuesday, August 14, 2007 at 05:15PM
Veronica Caperon, marketing coordinator of the UK team, visited Masoyi, South Africa and the Rubatano project in Central Mozambique in July and returned inspired by the work and commitment she found amongst the Hands at Work volunteers. She will be giving a talk about her trip at St Peter’s Church, Edgmond on Tuesday 16th October at 7.45pm
“It must have been so depressing - how can we get on top of this terrible problem?” That has been a common response from people when I have explained that I’ve just spent 10 days visiting projects for an HIV/AIDS charity in southern Africa. They then seem taken aback when I reply that I have returned inspired and uplifted by the excellent things I have seen.
Hands at Work | 2 Comments | Share Article in Mozambique, (UK)
Monday 11Jun
NewOffices
Monday, June 11, 2007 at 11:44PM
In late March, the newly registered UK office of Hands at Work was officially launched at a ceremony before an international guest list including the Nigerian High Commissioner and the Deputy Speaker of the UK House of Commons held at Zion Christian Centre.
George Snyman attended and addressed the audience with the Hands at Work vision. In response he was blessed with a gift: a large sheet covered with the paint-dipped handmark of each attendee, symbolizing their commitment to the cause. The launch was an incredible success.
The next Hands at Work regional office registration is underway across the world in Australia. For information on that process or to lend advice, contact Shane Lepp at slepp@bigpond.net.au
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