Who We Are
Hands at Work in Africa (UK) has three primary purposes in order to help care for 100,000 orphans and vulnerable children by 2010:
• education and awareness - through working in the UK with churches, schools and organisations
• fund raising - operating throughout Europe to support projects in Africa
• providing experiences and exchange of skills and expertise in Africa for UK volunteers and supporters
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Recent News
Hands at Work in Africa and a small church (Swaziland)
Our church, St John’s Heath Hayes, had the pleasure in February, of a visit from George Snyman. For two years now, St John’s has supported Hands at Work in Africa, with a particular interest in Asondle Sive Bomake in Swaziland. This link developed when my wife, Sheila and I visited Ka Phunga and worked very briefly with Nomsa Lukhele.
We have at times felt embarrassed that our church’s donations are quite small in proportion to the needs we saw. However, through the texts and emails which pass to and fro between Swaziland and Heath Hayes, we have come to realize that our prayers, our continued interest and our telling others about ASB mean as much to Nomsa as the money we give. It is also surprising how far, what seems to us a small amount of money, goes.
Some people in UK are suspicious that aid given to Africa is ineffective; that you don’t know that it gets to those who really need it. Our communications and contacts with Hands have been so good that we can truly say where donations go, and demonstrate to others the results.
And we really believe that St John’s benefits too from the relationship. There are many small churches like ours, with elderly congregations, (more pensioners than wage earners.) These, often rural churches, can start to look inwards. We are determined to keep looking outwards: That’s our mission. Yes, we need to raise funds to keep our own church going, but Hands at Work reminds us what we are here for, and how we can effectively be neighbours to people on the far side of the world.
In this age of Sunday shopping, and a range of activities for children to choose from on a Sunday – football, horse-riding, theatre group, -- we continually need to reach outwards to children and young people in our communities. Thanks to Hands, we are able to go into local schools, do assemblies, and teach about Africa, about aid, and about how Christians express their faith in action. These are subjects which many teachers appreciate help in delivering. So, our church plays the role of servant, in more than one way.
George Green,
Member of St John’s Church,
Heath Hayes, Staffordshire, UK
Training Community School Teachers in Zambia (Zam)
For the last five years now, Heather Lawrence has spend part of her summer holiday training teachers from the Community Schools we support in Zambia. In previous years , she has worked with teachers from the Luanshya area at Kachele farm, but this year, three others from the UK delivered a programme to these teachers designed to enable Lead Teachers to train others in their community and further afield. It has been immensely encouraging to see how these Lead Teachers have grown in confidence and skills since Heather's firet visit in 2005. They continue to listen to new ideas and take on board all suggestions readily. It is heartening to see they have implemented previous suggestions, adjusting them to suit their own circumstances.
From left to right: Blue, Jayne, Jo and Heather with Luanshya teachers
With Luanshya covered, Heather was able to train a group of teachers from Kitwe, north west of Luanshya. Most of these teachers are young but tremendously passionate about their pupils and their ability to teach them more effectively. It is hoped that the Lead Teachers in Luanshya will be able to include the Kitwe group in their future training.
On this trip, also for the first time, Heather trained a group of teachers from the schools we support in Kabwe. Here again the teachers were very enthusiastic to learn more and were especially keen to have resources to enable them to teach adults to read and write.
Heather with community school teachers in Kabwe
It is encouraging that we have donors in the UK who give faithfully and regularly towards providing monthly incentives for these incredible volunteers in Zambia. However, the number of teachers is increasing all the time so we are always looking for new sponsors so that all teachers will receive an adequate incentive for their selfless work.
Items for prayer:-
- funds to cover the extra teachers and the increase in food and fuel costs
- the health of the teachers and pupils
- the organisation and dispatching of resources out to Zambia
- the ability to provide the specific resources requested such as reading and writing materials for adults
- a volunteer to work with the teachers for an extended period of time
Church Team Trips to Zambia During 2009 (UK)
During 2009 between April and August, four teams from Zion Christian Centre, Halesowen and The Forge Church, Stowmarket visited some of the CBOs supported by Hands at Work in the Luanshya area of Zambia. Zion has been partnering with Hands and sending teams for the last 5 years and the partnership with The Forge has been running for the last two years, the latter taking more of a leadership role this year. The focus of the four teams was rural development, healthcare, a children’s camp and teaching teachers.
Rural Development
This team focused on rural development and building work. They ran a 2-day training session at Kachele Farm for 19 Zambians using the ‘Farming God’s Way’ programme. They were able to introduce more hens to the farm, a stock of food and provision for safe storage. They also built a compost bin and bought Moringa trees to be planted out later. 
On the building side, the team carried out school roof surveys at Mwaiseni, Chibuli and Maria Chimona; built roofs at 2 of the schools and left trusses left. They discovered that the well at Chibuli was not working and were able to carry out a repair.
Healthcare
The healthcare team carried out 2 days of training for a total of 86 teachers, volunteers and HBC workers on caring for children experiencing grief. 607 children took part in a de-worming programme in 9 different schools, and 208 pairs of glasses were given out to teachers, youth workers and HBC Workers.
Children’s Camp
The children’s team ran two, week long, activity camps for 30 children including games, crafts, music and teaching on healthcare issues such as malaria and nutrition, the main aim being for the children to have a break from their usual routines and have the opportunity to be ‘children’. They also visited 3 local community schools to encourage volunteers, assess the current situation and leave resources. The team also left a gift to finish off the well at Maposa School. 
Teaching Teachers
The teaching team ran training sessions for 15 teachers covering a wide range of themes such as: learning styles, how to teach adults, presentation skills, lesson planning, child protection, and the psycho-emotional development of children. The teaching team was at the farm at the same time as the children’s camp and so was able to support the children’s workers and join in on the camp. 
All the team members on the trips also took part in Home Based Care Projects, which gave them an opportunity to see life in the local communities.
At Hands at Work, we are very excited about the development of this cutting edge partnership, which has also led to 2 couples from The Forge moving to The Hub to serve as long-term volunteers. We continue to work together to take this incredible expression of servanthood to new levels.
CRY from the Mountain Tops (Swaziland)
The Three Peaks Challenge
A certain young man said, "Dad, can we do the Three Peaks?" It is 20 years since a group connected to St John’s Church, Heath Hayes (near Cannock, Staffordshire in the UK) did the ‘The Three Peaks Challenge’ to raise funds for Cystic Fibrosis. The challenge involves climbing the highest mountains in Scotland (Ben Nevis), England (Scafell Pike) and Wales (Snowdon).
So, a new group of men, aged from 18 to 63, met to plan and prepare. The group included George Green who, with his wife Sheila, has served Hands at Work for a number of years in the UK and made several trips to Africa, visiting CBOs supported by Hands in Masoyi (South Africa) and Swaziland. They decided to support two charities. The title, ‘CRY from the Mountain Tops’ encompasses both of these: CRY(Cardiac Risk in the Young), and ‘Asondle Sive Bomake,’ Home Based Care in Swaziland, ‘the Mountain Kingdom.’ ASB is a CBO supported by Hands at Work.
The 11-strong team, with another friend accompanying them as driver and support, drove up to Fort William, Scotland. They set off from Glen Nevis in good weather in the early afternoon of the following day, and approaching the top, walked into cloud, icy wind, hail and snow. It was hard to see the marker cairns in the deep snow. The rocky platform at the summit had beautiful ice sculptures, carved by the salty wind.
As they left the summit of Ben Nevis at 5:00pm, the cloud parted and, looking back, they saw the magnificent snow cornices, overhanging the cliffs; a danger for those who do not keep to the path.
They drove through the night to the Lake District. Having made good time, they tried to sleep for an hour. It was dark and pouring with rain. Somehow they had to find boots, full waterproofs, snacks and water to get ready to start Scafell Pike as dawn crept slowly over the hills. Stiff limbs were reawakened and, short of sleep and energy, they began the long, slow climb. The rain eased but they soon met their familiar companions, icy wind and snow. Scafell’s upper slopes are strewn with large boulders, ready to twist or trap ankles. The weather brightened, giving them good views as they descended by a different route with scree slopes and a little bit of rock climbing for a change.
The Lake District was now in full ‘Holiday’ mode, hindering their fast progress. There were several hundred marathon runners on a narrow road, and convoys of day-trippers driving slowly.
Reaching the foot of Snowdon, with sunshine and a sheltered climb ahead along the miners’ track, they had a range of motives: the youngest were intent on a speedy finish; the eldest and some first-timers, (who thought they were out of energy,) were just intent on finishing. It is experience that tells you that your body does have reserves of energy for times like this. The team stood together at the top of Snowdon at last. No snow! Just a beautiful view, with the sun setting to the West and the moon rising in the East, gently to light their descent.
All of us at Hands are immensely grateful to the team, to its sponsors and especially to God for enabling the team to enjoy His dangerous creation and putting a smile on His face.
They raised £1,453.50 for Asondle Sive Bomake, more than is shown on the cheque in the picture below because extra donations were received after the event.
Can we really make a difference?(SA)
Monday, June 29, 2009 at 12:45PM
| modify remove organize post follow up |
A number of years ago, Locks Heath Free Church was challenged to respond to the world-devastating effects of HIV/AIDS. For years we had financially supported organisations such as BMS (Baptist Missionary Society) who care for those in need, and due to the far-reaching effects of HIV/AIDS, were undoubtedly helping thousands suffering from this deadly disease. However the call of God was clear – we needed to do more - to care, to love, to take action.
Our response was to partner with Hands at Work in Africa, and in turn we were introduced to a very poor community in South Africa called Belfast. When the first team visited in February 2008, we met over 30 local ‘grannies’ who despite their own clear poverty, were daily visiting and caring for the orphan, widowed and poor in Belfast. For the past five years these ladies have chosen to respond to the call of God and were caring for those living under the shadow of the HIV/AIDS virus and its dispassionate theft of life.
We now had the opportunity to partner with these amazing ladies; to encourage them, work along side them and help enable them to make a bigger difference in Belfast.
During our first visit we sought to learn, to encourage, to give – we visited many in the community and helped fence a compound for the ladies to call their home. This compound was a place for them to meet, to grow crops for the poor and hopefully one day to accommodate a number of buildings to provide crèche facilities for those with nothing, a feeding programme base camp and a safe place for child headed households to find practical love. Another planned element of the compound was to drill a bore-hole to provide a vital element of survival – clean water.
During our visit in February 2009, we were heartbroken to see that the compound had reverted to a thoroughfare for cattle and people because local herdsmen had torn down the fence.
However the ladies were still there, still serving, still loving those with nothing. As we talked and listened we discovered the ladies were also very upset about the fence - they had spoken to local police, the local chief and called for a community meeting so the chief could tell the community to show respect. They were serious about caring for the poor!
We assured the ladies that we were not planning on walking away (as they had feared). We told them our commitment was to them and not the fence - the fence could easily be restored. We told them that they were the hands and feet, the eyes and ears of God in Belfast. They cheered and clapped in response to the fence being restored – a humbling experience for they were the ones who deserved the applause. This project is not about a fence, a compound or a building, but a heart response to God's call to care for the poor.
By the middle of March the fence was restored and now crops grow; tended by grannies and orphans, growing food to sustain life. We’ve also funded a feeding programme, targeting the 50 most vulnerable children in Belfast – making a real difference.
The bore-hole on the other hand is proving more difficult. Having gained permission to drill a bore-hole, having secured funding (from generous giving by people at LHFC and restored the fencing, drilling commenced in May 2009 – but heartbreakingly no water was found! We are still discussing alternative solutions, however in the meantime the ladies collect the water, ensure crops grow, feed the poor and bring people hope.
What next? We keep supporting, praying, encouraging, visiting, serving and giving to make a difference in this community. In October 2009, another team from LHFC fly out to do precisely that – telling these amazing ladies that they are making a difference, that they are not crazy to care for the poor, they are not forgotten, they matter to God and to us.
Make a difference; pray for the ladies in Belfast – Doris (team leader), Ruth, Elisa, Dinah, Tryphina, Linneth, Betty, Renail, Sarah, Anna, Nancy, Violet and Renee – to name just some of them!
Mark Madavan
Senior Minister, Locks Heath Free Church, Fareham, UK
"No longer will the poor be nameless" Psalm 9v17
Tuesday 04Nov
UK College Impacting Community Schools(ZAM)
Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at 12:51PM
Halesowen College Child Care Students’ Project for Community Schools in Zambia
Hands UK Chairman, Nick Lawrence, and his wife, Heather, who has been training community school teachers in Zambia for the last 4 years, recently attended a presentation evening at Halesowen College. During the academic year 2007-08, students in the Child Care & Education department created a wide range of educational resources to be sent to the community schools we support in Zambia and also put on several fundraising events. The picture shows Nick & Heather receiving a cheque for GBP 1,305.78 from Diane McCathie, Student Support Director at the College.
We are sincerely grateful to all the students for their hard work and, in particular, to Gill Pendry for co-ordinating the project. The College will be undertaking another project during the 2008-09 academic year as we continue to build on this excellent partnership.
Hands at Work | Post a Comment | Share Article in Zambia, (UK), Fundraising
Tuesday 20May
Head Shave forHands
Tuesday, May 20, 2008 at 07:57AM
A long-time Hands at Work supporter shaves his head in support of a Hands at Work project. See the video:
Hands at Work | Post a Comment | Share Article in South Africa, video post, (UK)
Thursday 10Apr
OnTour
Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 03:26PM
George Snyman, founder of Hands at Work in Africa, is touring North America and the UK over the next month and a half. If you are interested in a more detailed itinerary with all the locations that George will be speaking at please email: lynn@handsatwork.org.
Hands at Work | 1 Comment | Share Article in Hands at Work in Africa, George Snyman, (UK), (CAN), (USA)
Thursday 07Feb
UK summer newsletter2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008 at 09:09AM Christmas in May in Swaziland • Spend two weeks in Africa • UK represented at African Leaders and International Conferences 2008 • British schools help with GoLD future in South Africa • From Halesowen to Africa - college students link with Zambia schools
• Regular monthly giving • Financial Statement for first 17 months as a registered charity • Your Will, Their future - a legacy from you will be such a welcome gift to ensure a future of hope and fulfilment for those affected • Schools Service - From infant classes to agricultural students, talks are tailored suitably • Hairless for Hands! GBP1395 raised! Forthcoming fundraising events: throw yourself off St Peter’s Church for Hands at Work Abseiling with local scouts - “hands...at work... in Africa” photo exhibition - “An evening of Words and Music” - performed by singers of the much acclaimed Midlands Chorale and The Keele Poets - whose poetry reaches parts of your soul no-one else ever has • Christmas is coming...
Give someone something useful this Christmas. Now you can make a difference to the lives of those affected by HIV/AIDS - and give it as a present to someone special! • Progress in Nigeria - Local managers report in Nigeria on our Lagos Home Based Care (HBC) Programme, and helping commercial sex workers tackle the daily problems of HIV/AIDS at Isolo. We include some stories of children given new hope by volunteers on our Community Based Organisation (CBO) Hands at Work | Post a Comment | Share Article in (UK)
Tuesday 14Aug
Hands at Work in UKVisit
Tuesday, August 14, 2007 at 05:15PM
Veronica Caperon, marketing coordinator of the UK team, visited Masoyi, South Africa and the Rubatano project in Central Mozambique in July and returned inspired by the work and commitment she found amongst the Hands at Work volunteers. She will be giving a talk about her trip at St Peter’s Church, Edgmond on Tuesday 16th October at 7.45pm
“It must have been so depressing - how can we get on top of this terrible problem?” That has been a common response from people when I have explained that I’ve just spent 10 days visiting projects for an HIV/AIDS charity in southern Africa. They then seem taken aback when I reply that I have returned inspired and uplifted by the excellent things I have seen.
Hands at Work | 2 Comments | Share Article in Mozambique, (UK)
Monday 11Jun
NewOffices
Monday, June 11, 2007 at 11:44PM
In late March, the newly registered UK office of Hands at Work was officially launched at a ceremony before an international guest list including the Nigerian High Commissioner and the Deputy Speaker of the UK House of Commons held at Zion Christian Centre.
George Snyman attended and addressed the audience with the Hands at Work vision. In response he was blessed with a gift: a large sheet covered with the paint-dipped handmark of each attendee, symbolizing their commitment to the cause. The launch was an incredible success.
The next Hands at Work regional office registration is underway across the world in Australia. For information on that process or to lend advice, contact Shane Lepp at slepp@bigpond.net.au
Hands at Work | Post a Comment | Share Article in Expansion, (UK)