Day 23 - Welcome to South Africa (#40Days2025)

Day 23 - Welcome to South Africa

South Africa is one of eight countries that Hands at Work is serving in across Africa. South Africa has a population of 61,073,340 people, with 22% of the population living in extreme poverty. Ranking 110 out of 187 on the Human Development Index, 160,000 children are living with HIV/AIDS and 640,000 children have been orphaned because of this life-threatening illness. – Sources: UNAID, UNDP, World Poverty Clock

As we start the week, please join us in praying for the country of South Africa: s one of the most developed economies on the continent, South Africa attracts a significant number of foreign nationals seeking a better life for

themselves and their families. In many remote communities, there is a substantial population of undocumented foreign nationals who often settle in small, underdeveloped, and informal communities. These individuals choose these areas because they can easily secure a small piece of land to build whatever shelter they can afford.

Unfortunately, they are often ostracised and pushed to live on “the other side of the tracks”, creating a clear divide between locals and foreigners in many communities. Once settled, these families grow, and many children are born in South Africa but lack recognition as citizens. These children face significant challenges, growing up in the country without access to benefits. Consequently, they struggle to obtain a quality education or any assistance from state institutions due to their undocumented status. There is also a high incidence of crime directed toward them, as few are willing to stand up for foreign nationals. South Africa has been notoriously known for widespread xenophobic attitudes towards foreigners.

• “Pray for our Service Centres who have started to look to break new ground into new communities. We are in the process of walking and building relationships with stakeholders in some of the most vulnerable places in our region. Pray for this process to go smoothly.

• Our children and families have been living in South Africa for many years without proper documentation. Our children attend school with little hope of obtaining a qualification upon completion of their studies because they are undocumented.

• Pray for South African nationals in our communities to develop compassionate and hospitable hearts towards their foreign neighbours.

• Pray for churches in our communities to embrace their mandate to care for the foreigners among them.”
– Sisanda, Regional Support Team Leader

To learn more about South Africa, the communities that we serve and about our Service Centres (local Hands at Work teams), please visit: https:

Day 23 - Welcome to Eswatini (#40Days2025)

Day 23 - Welcome to Eswatini

Eswatini is one of eight countries that Hands at Work is serving in across Africa. Eswatini has a population of 1,508,720 people, with 30% of the population living in extreme poverty. Ranking 142 out of 187 on the Human Development Index, there are 5,600 children living with HIV/AIDS and 70,000 children who have been orphaned because of this life-threatening illness. – Sources: UNAID, UNDP, World Poverty Clock

As we start the week, please join us in praying for the country of Eswatini:

• “Please pray in regards unemployment. There are many stories where the husband went to South Africa to look for odd jobs but then never come back home. And now the grandmother or the wife has to get odd jobs, which is rare and if they do, it’s not enough to generate income for the family. We find a lot of under-fives children who are left behind with grandmothers because their mothers went to South Africa to look for a way but they don’t come back.

• Please pray in regards to school fees, which are very high in Eswatini. Some of our youth, they end up not finishing high school and then they go and work in the farms, next to the border of Mozambique.” – Pinky, Regional Support Team Leader

To learn more about Eswatini, the communities that we serve and about our Service Centres (local Hands at Work teams), please visit: https:

Sunday Reflections (#40Days2025)

Erick, Hands Leader (DRC), reflects on the role of the International Church and the Local Church working together to care for the most vulnerable:

“Both of them have the same mandate to show love and care for the vulnerable. The International Church mostly prays for the children by name after getting their stories. They also support them in raising funds to support with the three essential services. They also support in sending teams with different talents and skills to serve the children and to encourage them. While the Local Church is the physical body of Christ to these children daily; visiting them, praying for them, encouraging them and sharing about Jesus."

Day 22 - Pray for Our Children in the DRC (#40Days2025)

Day 22 - Pray for Our Children in the DRC

Within the Democratic Republic of Congo, there are 1180 children being loved and cared for. The Goma and Likasi Service Centres* invite you to pray for the children in their region:

• “Pray for children to experience the love of Christ in their lives through the people around them as many children experience verbal and physical abuse even from their own parents so it’s difficult for them to explain what does love mean to them.

• Pray for the under 5s and the children aged 6 to 12 as these age groups are more exposed to diseases like malaria and typhoid. Pray for God’s protection against sicknesses.

• Pray for the youths to know Christ and make good choice in their lives as many of them are attracted by things which can destroy their lives, like looking for odd jobs doing artisanal mines which lead them to abusing drugs and alcohol and enter into early marriage and prostitution.” – Angel, Service Centre Coordinator (DRC) sharing on behalf of the Likasi Service Centre*.

• “The war has affected the children in Goma and the displacement camps were a centre for many activities like use of drugs, child abuse, prostitution, which are taking our children away from a good education. As our children return to their homes, let us pray for the security of our teenagers and young ones and pray that they are able to return to school.” – Erick sharing on behalf of the Goma Service Centre*.

• Pray for our children to make wise and healthy choices as they have been living in a state of chaos. Pray for their protection against the schemes of the enemy.

To learn more about the DRC, the communities that we serve and about our Service Centres (local Hands at Work teams), please visit: https:

Day 21 - Pray for Care Workers and Primary Caregivers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (#40Days2025)

Day 21 - Pray for Care Workers and Primary Caregivers in the Democratic Republic of Congo

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, there are 128 Care Workers who have committed to caring for the most vulnerable children. In many communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo and across Africa, the Care Workers are also the Primary Caregivers of the children they serve.

A Primary Caregiver is the mother, father, grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings or other relatives who live with the children coming to the Care Point. The Goma and Likasi Service Centers* invite you to pray for the Care Workers and Primary Caregivers in their region:

• “Pray for those who do farming. Pray for good rains - many people can’t afford to get fertilisers but may God provide good rains for so they can provide for their families.

• Pray for good health and strength as each day they have to do something so they can provide for their families. Unless they have good health, they can’t do it otherwise. It’s tough for them and it has an impact on the rest of the family.

• Pray for the Care Workers and Primary Caregivers to base their lives on the true foundation of Christ. Pray that they live it out in their daily lives and their relationships with others.” - Angel, Service Centre Coordinator (DRC) sharing on behalf of the Likasi Service Centre*.

• “Many of the Primary Caregivers and Care Workers have experienced lots of trauma. As they return to their communities, pray that the Lord will keep them through this season of different changes.” – Bahati, Service Centre* Member (DRC) sharing on behalf of the Goma Service Centre*.

To learn more about the DRC, the communities that we serve and about our Service Centres (local Hands at Work teams), please visit: https:

Day 20 – Pray for Our Communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (#40Days2025)

Day 20 – Pray for Our Communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Within the Democratic Republic of Congo, there are 10 communities being supported and cared for:

• Buhimba, Katembe, Luhonga (supported by the Goma Service Centre)

• Kambove, Kikula B, Kisunka, Kitabataba, Kitondo, Toyota A and Toyota B (supported by the Likasi Service Centre)

Today we invite you to pray for the challenges that exist across all communities:

• “The cost of living is becoming so high compared to the income people are getting. Even fuel is getting very expensive, almost 85% of the normal price since early this year and the transport fare is getting very high. Pray for God’s provision for His people.

• Let’s pray for our communities in Likasi after the outbreak of cholera early this year. Pray that the Lord grant divine protection for our people. Pray that water will be available for the hygiene and cleanliness to fight this epidemic as drinking water is becoming scarce in the Likasi communities.

• Let’s pray for peace within our communities as the issue of Goma taken by rebels cannot affect our communities as well as these 2 regions are the Swahili-speaking people. May God protect our communities against any form of malice roaming around our province.

• Pray for Goma as rebels have taken over, that God in His sovereignty brings stability and peace despite the wave of war which has last a decade.” – Erick, Hands Leader (DRC)

To learn more about the DRC, the communities that we serve and about our Service Centres (local Hands at Work teams), please visit: https: