The Story of Zimba B Community

In 1996, Hildah, the ‘Mother Theresa’ in Zimba, saw the needs in her community and was moved by compassion to start caring for the orphaned and vulnerable. In the same year, George Snyman, the co-founder of Hands at Work, visited Zimba and shared his heart for the poor with Hildah and a few other women in the community. According to Hildah, George’s visit brought much hope and encouragement into the Care Workers’ lives and inspired them to continue caring for the orphaned and vulnerable children around them. Hildah’s dream for Zimba was to see transformation - especially in the lives of the children who seemed to have no hope for the future.

Strongholds within the community of Zimba include witchcraft, alcohol abuse, early childhood marriage and child labour. Another challenge in the community is having access to clean and safe drinking water. Often, people have to walk long distances to collect water. Most Primary Caregivers rely on the crops they grow and harvest as their only source of food. They have difficulty seeing how they will be able to provide for themselves and their families when they are faced with frequent droughts. Because there is no possibility of irrigation for the crops, regular rainfall is essential for a successful harvest. 

80 Children currently support

10 Care Workers Coordinated by Baptister

Basic Services Started in 2023

90 KM FROM the KITWE LOCAL OFFICE

Hands at Work started a partnership with Kachema Musuma Community Based Organisation (CBO) and in 2012, began supporting them as they cared for the most vulnerable children. 

In 2023, an assessment of the children identified many who were travelling long distances every day to receive a meal at the Care Point. A decision was made to establish a second Care Point, Zimba B, closer to the more remote families. 

Today, 80 of the most vulnerable children receive the life-giving services of a daily hot, nutritious meal and support with their education and basic health care. Yet, the care that the children receive extends far beyond their physical needs. Thirteen Care Workers are committed to visiting the children in their homes and bringing parental care and love while sharing about the hope of Jesus.

The Care Workers in Zimba B fully give of themselves to care for the vulnerable children in their community, though they are very poor themselves, surviving by doing temporary, occasional jobs such as gardening and selling vegetables and charcoal. They lead sacrificial lives in order to care for those who are struggling and are examples of true servants who are committed to caring and bringing hope to those around them.

The most recent project, building the Care Point structure at Zimba B, was completed in 2023.

The local Hands at Work team in Kitwe currently supports seven Community Based Organisations, which exist to care for the most vulnerable in their communities. The office provides training, networking, and encouragement to those Community Based Organisations like Kachema Musuma. It also gives administrative support, including helping with funding proposals, monitoring and evaluation, bookkeeping and reporting to donors. 

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My Calling - Blessings Sambo
My Calling - Blessings Sambo

I had started reaching out to the vulnerable in Mulenga, and it brought me great joy. There was a great fulfilment in my heart. I remember some people started mocking me because they had heard that I wasn’t getting paid. They didn’t know why I would do it for free.

An Urgent Call to Prayer
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The two of us who had previously gone to Africa through Hands at Work shared stories of what we might have experienced while there — stories of Holy Home Visits, attending local churches, and building relationships with long-term volunteers. At the end of the two weeks, the team realised that we would have arrived home. We agreed that we did not want to stop meeting.

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When the Care Workers of Chibote community started to notice a line of four younger siblings following Rosa into the Care Point, and then huddled around Rosa’s one plate of food, they realised this was a home that needed visiting to understand more about the family.

My Calling - Michael Mwila
My Calling - Michael Mwila

Through serving and working with different people, I am a changed person. Not just in the communities, but in my family. I am a leader at my church because of the things that I have gone through and now people can trust me. If I was where I had been, than maybe I wouldn’t be alive, but God saved my life. That's why I also want to serve, to give life to other people.

Watchword Reflections 2019
Watchword Reflections 2019

“This year, I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in the two Watchword meetings that were held, first in South Africa and then in Zambia. Despite the passage being the same, what was shared was distinctly different from one another. As such, I learned different lessons from both.”

Our Calling - Lisa and Brian Dalley
Our Calling - Lisa and Brian Dalley

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I was surprised, moved and thankful for the things that had changed. New additions to the team. New Care Points serving more children than was previously possible. New dreams and imaginative possibilities for partnership with the international church.