Our Story

Carolyn & George Snyman, founders of Hands at WorkHistorically, Home Based Care (HBC) has played an integral role in the extended families and communities of Africa. However, a combination of HIV/AIDS and poor socio-economic conditions have seriously weakened both family and community structures. Heavily burdened by poverty and the care of seriously ill family members, most are unable to respond to the needs of others. As a result the practical and psycho-social needs of the orphaned child; the adolescent care-giver; the bereaved parent; of grannies learning to be mothers again; of those without food or income generating skills; the elderly; the weak and disabled remain un-addressed.

Africa’s youth are left struggling to find their purpose and identity in communities ravaged by severe health, social and economic problems. Millions are left without parents or other adult caregivers, and therefore without role models. The spread of AIDS continues as these young people become HIV positive, some through lack of education, most through lack of self-esteem and purpose. Africa is being stripped of its leaders from every aspect of government, industry, family and community life. Hands at Work in Africa seeks to reconstruct this traditional network of support and in doing so, support the development of new leaders.

Hands at Work grew out of the successful model of support and development implemented through the Masoyi Home Based Care project outside White River, Mpumalanga, South Africa. The early work at Masoyi was about providing relief to the sick and dying. The work developed in line with the needs of the community. As the number of orphaned children grew, so the orphan project developed; community grannies as caregivers; gardens; orphan homes and more recently, the Lula Care Centre in Masoyi and Khayaletu Two in Mahushu, providing pre-school education and infant skills, love and care for the very young, and so allowing older siblings to remain in school.

In its eight years of operation, by training and empowering volunteers to serve their community, the Masoyi project has developed a range of effective support systems. Their teams of volunteers know their community, they know who is sick and where a child is living alone. They inspire others to get involved and have become role models for the leaders of tomorrow.

Working in consultation with community leaders and local churches, this model is being replicated and enhanced by Hands at Work and it’s projects elsewhere in South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Swaziland. Each replication is tailored to meet the needs and available resources of that community, ensuring at all times that support is given to those who are most vulnerable. Orphan centers, baby clinics, schools, feeding programmes, income generating opportunities and advocacy projects are just some of the wide range of provisions being developed.