Australia Country Office
The Hands at Work in Africa (Australia) Country Office exists to support the vision of Hands at Work in Africa.
We do this through open communication with the leaders in Southern Africa, through financial support, liaison with other interested parties in Australia, organisation of short term missions teams to visit various countries and projects, and an access point for the dissemination of information about Hands at Work in Africa to various contacts, thereby raising Australians’ awareness of the plight of many people in Africa.
To download our brochure, please click here (1.1MB PDF)
HOW CAN YOU HELP US?
1. COME.
Whether you are 16 or 86 years old, come to Africa. See the need firsthand and actively participate in Hands at Work in Africa projects across various communities or countries. You can go as an individual or a group.
Download our brochure (479kb)
2. GIVE.
Commit to giving financially. Be it a once off or a regular monthly gift, become involved in changing lives directly as well as by supporting those who work with the most vulnerable.
Without access to food, education and basic health care, children are left extremely vulnerable. Therefore in accordance with international standards of child care, Hands at Work in Africa does not say it “cares” for a child until we are able to provide access to these three areas. Come and join the Hands family by giving a monthly donation of $15 to enable Hands to meet the needs of orphaned and vulnerable children.
Sign up online to sponsor, donate or download our sponsorship form (484kb) and fax or mail in your payment.
3. ADVOCATE.
Own the vision and share the need. Use creative means and resources available to network with your local community and beyond to help others know about the work of Hands at Work in Africa. They can then come, give and then advocate to others themselves!
Download our brochure (620kb)
CHURCHES.
Relevant material and updates are available for churches to become a regular part of Hands at Work in Africa; be it through focused updates, sending teams or giving to the cause.
CORPORATES.
It's not just individuals and churches who can play a a part in the Hands at Work in Africa vision. Our Corporate Sponsorship Programs offer businesses the chance to give either finances or in kind gifts to help both the Australian Country Office operations or direct to those in desperate need.
30th March 2010
MLC Girls School NSW article on Georges visit
On Wednesday the 10th March during Wednesday morning assembly, Year 11 IB was inspired to finally ‘Draw the Line’. We had the opportunity to listen to the moving message of Mr George Synman who is the founder of the non-profit organisation, ‘Hands on Work’. This organisation aims to save and reach out to the vulnerable African societies.
The vigour and passion of the founder George Synman moved the girls to make a difference. For his message was not simply one of action, but that of changing attitudes. He aimed to open our eyes and minds and look inside ourselves, recognizing what is really important. With his encouragement, we are motivated to instigate change. George and his organisation endeavour to build a bridge between the privileged and those who have nothing.
A group of girls from MLC want to be part of this project, we want to close the disparity, helping our sisters and brothers in the name of humanity. Over years to come, we wish to work hand in hand with George and his organisation in improving the lives of our African counterparts. George’s emotive message is one that has changed our views and encouraged us to instigate change, drawing attention to the importance of service within a global community. Hopefully through the continued focus on service during Wednesday morning assemblies, many more MLC students will be motivated to increase awareness and address inequality within in our world today.
22nd March 2010
Video update from Kachele Farm, Luanshya
15th March 2010
Arise + Build has been launched in Australia! Please visit the How you can help page to find out more.
George in Australia March/April 2010
Hands at Work in Africa founder George Snyman is currently in Australia. Here are some open events where you can here George speak and find out more about how you can get involved with the Hands mission.
SYDNEY:
Friday 12 March - Engadine Church of Christ, High School Youth Event (6pm, Woronora Rd, Engadine) with the Dav...id Barbosa Band
Saturday 13 March - Gymea Anglican Church Youth Event (Gymea Bay Rd, Gymea)
Sunday 14 March - Southside Christian Fellowship, (175 Port Hacking Road, Miranda @ 9:30am)
Sunday 14 March - Narwee Baptist Church (33 Baumans Rd, Peakhurst @ 6pm)
MELBOURNE:
Sunday 21 March - New Horizons Church (28 Forest Street, Whittlesea @ 10am)
Sunday 21 March - Leadership focus - Building and working in a team - New Horizons Church (28 Forest Street, Whittlesea @7pm)
Recent News
Traveling to Australia
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at 08:50AMGeorge Snyman, founder and CEO of Hands at Work in Africa, will journey to Australia this week to speak in churches, spreading the biblical mandate to care for the orphans, widows, and the dying.
During his stay in Sydney from February 12th to the 17th, George will meet with local pastors involved in missions and share with students at St. George Christian School. On Sunday, February 15th, he will speak at the 9am service at President Ave Community Church and at the 5pm service at Northern District Chinese Christian Church.
On February 17th, George will travel to Melbourne and later to Ballarat, speaking in churches in these cities on Sunday, February 22nd, and Sunday, March 1st, respectively. Church locations to follow as details are finalized.
For further information regarding George’s stay in Australia, please contact Carly in Sydney (+614 14877763) and Shane in Melbourne and Ballarat (+614 18526773).
Lindy loved to go to school
Friday, August 1, 2008 at 09:57AMThe grandmother told us Lindy loved to go to school, that even though she was too young and was sick, she constantly whined and begged her grandparents to go to school.
Lindy and her brother outside their home in Likasi, Congo.In a village called Chitulu, in Democratic Republic of Congo, on a home-based care visit one day, my wife and I met a little girl named Lindy. She is five years old. She has dark, mourning eyes, and wispy little legs that poke out beneath her skirt. She is HIV-positive. No one seems to know where their father is, and their very sick mother died shortly after Lindy’s birth. She has a seven-year old brother who is healthy. The kids live now with their grandparents.
The grandfather is very old and works each day farming in their field outside town. He loves his grandchildren very much, and when Lindy began getting sick, he carried her on his back to the local clinic. The grandmother is completely blind. She sits on a soft chair in the middle of their house smiling with her eyes wide open: creamy white moons leaking slow drips onto her cheeks.
This is a broken family, but together somehow they are strong. The grandmother calls out to Lindy: “Lindy, is the door open?” or “Lindy, is it raining outside?” The little girl is her grandmother’s eyes. The grandfather relies heavily on his disabled wife for the emotional encouragement to keep working in his old age. Recently the grandmother became very ill, and it seemed for a while that she might not live. His old wife’s illness almost killed the grandfather.
Australian School Raises Funds for Zambia
Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at 06:47AM
The Mt. Pleasant Primary School in Ballarat has reached out to the orphans of Zambia by raising much-needed funds to build a water well for the Chibuli Orphan School . As of October 22nd, the school and its 216 students had raised $911.
Hands at Work CEO George Snyman visited the school in October, where he met the school’s Welfare Officer, Danni Reeves, who has been instrumental in organising the fundraising events. George was pleasantly surprised to be entertained by the wonderful school choir singing an African song, as well as the song-and-dance group, also performing to African music.
Danni says the school hopes to reach the $1,000 mark by the end of the year.
George Snyman in AUS: OCT 11 - 26
Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at 10:37PM
George Snyman will be spending two weeks in Australia, visiting and speaking at various churches and conferences in Melbourne and Sydney about the plight of HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa. Below is George's intinerary for the period 11 to 26 October 2007. If you would like George to speak at your church, please contact him on +27-(0)13-7512341.