August 6, 2022
11-year-old Aaron* and his three siblings live with their grandmother, but it is not an easy situation. Aaron carries the burden of caring for his family as their grandmother struggles with alcohol abuse. The instability of their home environment often leads to outbursts of poor behaviour. In 2021, Care Worker Sarah was walking in the community when she noticed Aaron herding cattle and stopped to ask him about his life. Hearing some of his story, Sarah was concerned, and so, acting with compassion, she invited the children to come to the Care Point.
Since then, Aaron has been coming to the Care Point regularly and is slowly beginning to open up with the Care Workers. They are grateful that God has brought him such a long way already. Aaron has many friends at the Care Point, and his behaviour is improving. – Pimai B Community, Zimbabwe
November 17, 2021
In the community of Pimai B located in the Honde Valley in Zimbabwe, the Primary Caregivers have started a garden of vegetables like cabbage, carrots and beans. When the crops are harvested from the garden, they are used to feed the most vulnerable children who are coming to the Care Point, with the profits going to the Primary Caregivers involved. Any other harvest remaining is divided amongst the Primary Caregivers for their personal use – either to eat or to sell in the local markets.
These gardens are a way to help build resilience and self-sustainability into our Primary Caregivers and their families. In the coming year, Hands at Work dreams of starting more Primary-Caregiver gardens in other communities across Africa. Pray for all the logistics involved in these projects, that God’s hand will be upon them. Pray for there to be a bountiful harvest.
June 14, 2021
As a boy in a vulnerable family, Christopher grew up experiencing the love and hope of Care Workers in Pimai B Community, Zimbabwe. After finishing school, he desired to do the same for others and join the Care Worker team. When Jane, coordinator of the local Hands at Work team in the Honde Valley, saw his desire to serve the children, she invited him to start walking with the Honde Valley team.
Immediately the team started intentionally investing into Christopher’s life. Everywhere they went, he also went; visiting the most vulnerable families and learning more about the heart of Hands at Work. During this time he was also trained in bookkeeping by members of the Zimbabwe Regional Support team. Reflecting on this opportunity, Christopher shares that he feels humbled that he was chosen and invited to be the bookkeeper – to be trusted with this huge responsibility.
Since joining the Honde Valley team in 2020, Christopher has learned skills such as managing money and organisation but, more importantly, he’s realised that he wants a relationship with Jesus and so has been baptised. We can praise God for the work that He has been doing in Christopher’s life and how He has brought people into Christopher’s life who can be a positive and Godly influence.
March 23, 2021
Pictured here is the local health district team in Zimbabwe meeting with the Care Workers from Pimai B Community.
One of the ways Hands at Work bridges the gap between health care services and the poorest of the poor communities is by inviting health care professionals to personally visit these communities. In many cases, these visits have resulted in the health district registering us as an essential service, meaning that our work could continue throughout the pandemic when lockdown restrictions were in place.
December 8, 2020
In communities across Africa children stay with their elderly grandparents, who are themselves vulnerable, after their parents pass away.
Sadly, this is what has happened to 10-year-old Praise*. Unable to effectively care for Praise, her grandmother worries about who will care for her when she is completely unable. Thankfully, the Care Workers are already involved in this situation, supporting Praise’s grandmother to carry the burden together. Praise God for Care Workers across Africa, who are committed to investing into the lives of young girls and advocating on their behalf.
Praise is from Pimai B Community in Zimbabwe
July 27, 2019
Pimai B Community, Zimbabwe.
Ray’s* mother is a very broken woman. She is unable to care alone for seven-year-old Ray and his three siblings, many times leaving them in the care of their ageing grandmother. When the Care Workers found Ray and his siblings they were malnourished and desperately in need of love and hope, as well as of basic necessities. Since they have started attending the Care Point, the children now have a second home where they can be free, play and interact with other children and the Care Workers. Care Worker Sarah visits Ray’s family on a regular basis, encouraging them in their journey with Christ, praying with them and listening to the struggles that they face. Because of the trauma he has faced, Ray often struggles to interact with the children at the Care Point in a healthy way.
The Care Workers are working hard to support him and teach him to speak and act in ways that are life-giving to himself and others.
June 14, 2019
In the community of Pimai B, Zimbabwe, Care Workers identified an increasing number of preschool aged children at the Life Centre during the day. This was because their parents needed to work and could not afford preschool provision. The Community Based Organisation (CBO) decided to register as a preschool to become a safe place where children can be cared for and formally prepared for primary school. The teachers regularly receive government training, and the preschool is doing so well that children beyond the CBO are beginning to register also. In 2018, the preschool catered for 22 children and these little ones are developing well and growing in confidence!
August 30, 2018
Thank you, Chong Family Team, for your dedication to giving of yourselves as you served and encouraged the children, the Care Workers and the surrounding community of Pimai B in Zimbabwe, and allowing transformation to take place.
April 7, 2018
"Please join us in praying for our Life Centres in Zimbabwe. This April, they have increased the number of children in four of our communities; Chinyausunzi, Pimai B, Pimai C and Chinaka. We are so thankful that these children are now receiving access to food, education and health care but more than that, we are thankful that they are getting to experience the love of Jesus through the Care Workers. Please pray that they will feel a sense of belonging and that they will grow in their knowledge and understanding of Jesus. Also, pray for our local office teams and Regional Support Teams as they serve these communities, especially as they begin to invite new people to join their teams."
Kara McLaughlin (International Volunteer, Australia) shares a prayer request for the communities in Zimbabwe.
January 25, 2018
“Our desire for the Care Workers as they serve the most vulnerable children in their community is to be united in Christ. Recently there was a Maranatha Workshop for the Care Workers and Primary Caregivers. At the workshop, those facilitating shared about the importance of carrying one other’s burdens. Since then, 60 – 70 Primary Caregivers have been meeting once a month to share, fellowship and read the word of God together.
In Pimai B Community, the chief is involved and actively helping to support the work. There are farmers who are helping to provide seeds for the Primary Caregivers. At the Life Centre, there is a preschool run by two volunteers. One of the most exciting things is that the preschool kids are brilliant! They are learning to be unified and that it doesn’t matter who their parents are. The church leaders in Pimai B are very supportive of the Care Workers and regularly have meetings to discuss how they can be a better support to them. There are 12 Care Workers caring for 200 of the most vulnerable children. They regularly visit the children in their homes to ensure that they are being effectively and holistically cared for.”
Jane Matsanura, African Volunteer (Zimbabwe) is a member of the Honde Valley Local Office team. She reflects on the Life Centre in Pimai B Community.
The Care Workers are committed to serving the children in whatever way necessary including clearing space for a garden at the Care Point.
The Pimai B Care Point.
150 of the most vulnerable children in Pimai B receive a daily hot and nutritious meal, access to education and access to basic health care.
June 28, 2018
After their grandmother passed away, 11-year-old Titus* and his sisters, Eveline* and Margret*, were alone. With nowhere to live and no one to care for them, the children spent each night sleeping with different families. Filled with a pervasive sense of hopelessness, the children merely existed from day to day. Into this tragedy stepped a woman named Linda* who was filled with love and compassion. She brought Titus and Eveline into her home, giving them a place to belong. However, she was unable to care for all three children due to her own vulnerability so John, a member of the Hands at Work local office team in the Honde Valley, brought Margret to live with his family. Like Linda, he began to love and provide for Margret as his own child. Margret remains living with John and his family to this day.
Pimai B Community, Zimbabwe