Continuing to Provide the Essentials
When COVID-19 hit Africa, the vulnerability of those living in communities served by Hands at Work significantly increased. Most prominently, the pandemic exposed the lack of effective access that our communities have to basic health care services.
One of our first tasks was bridging the gap between the government health authorities – who were making the decisions about which essential services could stay open and what people could or couldn’t do – and the communities that are off the map, where the needs amongst the poorest people are the highest.
As well as the connection with local health professionals, the pandemic has exposed a need to work with authorities to ensure our care facilities and procedures are at the highest standards and meet regulations we are likely to face on the road ahead. Hands at Work recognises that in order to withstand the pressure that Care Points will face in the future to stay open, upgrades are needed on their facilities. In 2020, Hands at Work has identified key priority upgrades for the communities across Africa, including food preparation and storage areas, clean toilets, kitchen shelters and benches. Projects like these will all contribute towards ensuring the overall safety, health and hygiene of the most vulnerable children across Africa.
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Be a part of helping us bring relief to the most vulnerable children and communities directly impacted by crises like Coronavirus (COVID-19)
STORIES of Our Response
“We want to seize this moment and we want to be laser focused to do whatever we can to provide the best support for our communities. We need to reposition ourselves, while still serving exactly the same vision …”
Hands at Work in Africa is supporting the most vulnerable children and their families. We continue to fight for the health of the vulnerable! We are social distancing yet bringing essential care and ensuring that people are getting to the clinic and accessing needed medication. Someone sees them. Someone is visit.
Hands at Work in Africa is supporting the most vulnerable children and their families. We continue to feed! We are social distancing yet welcoming children. The smoke rising from the cooking shelter is a signal to the community that someone is there. Someone is cooking. Someone sees them. Someone is waiting for them to come.
“We listened to each others voices and one by one we heard different people in different places in Africa doing something that brought hope …”
Hands at Work continues to reach out, through this time when many people are distancing. Of course the way we do this needs to honour the restrictions in place.
We aim to be responsible, wise and discerning, listening well to advice given from health care professionals and governments.However we also aim to use this time as an opportunity to let love conquer fear and for Christ's light to shine in the darkness.
BE INSPIRED BY MORE STORIES OF OUR RESPONSE

Our goal is to ensure that we continue to protect our children whilst, at the same time, building resilience in our communities and in their leaders.

In July, Audrey and her team went to the local clinic in Chimoio to fight on behalf of the most #vulnerable children, to ensure that they receive essential medical care. Hearing the deep concern for the state of our children’s health and hygiene, both now and what is anticipated to only increase in the future, the clinic sent a doctor, a nurse and a nutritionist to visit each family being served by Hands at Work in #Mozambique.

#WeVisitBecauseHeVisitedUs. Across Africa Holy Home Visits continue #CovidResponse #HolyHomeVisits #CaringForTheMostVulnerable #ChristAsOurFoundation

After months of not being able to meet, due to the restrictions, Care Workers across our Zambian communities began to meet again this week in their relationship groups. There was a hunger and a thirst to dive in to the Word, pray together and praise how faithful their Father has been. The local Hands at Work team encouraged our Care Workers from Maposa a community in Zambia, with scripture and testimonies of storms they have faced and overcome with the loving support of our Father.

With school out, and contact games not allowed, we've been creative as to how we can still devise opportunities for connection, learning, wonder, joy and celebration. Children making their own toys has been one way we've done this.

In South Africa, since government restrictions were put in place due to Covid-19, children are unable to play and eat together at our Care Points. In communities across South Africa, committed Care Workers have continued to cook each day for the children they care for, despite the restrictions. Recently, the children were provided with new containers meaning that, for now, the children are able to come and collect their hot, nutritious meal and take it home with them to eat.

In this season young girls are particularly susceptible to neglect, abuse and mistreatment. Join us in lifting these girls up in prayer, as their vulnerability increases each day due to the government restrictions, which prevent many of them from attending school or spending significant amounts of time at our Care Points. Pray for their safety and protection during this time. Pray that our Care Workers and community leaders are brave and able to respond quickly when advocating and protecting children who are experiencing abuse.

Visiting the most vulnerable in their homes is a vital part of the way we care for our children. In Nigeria, even amidst the lockdown in Lagos, local volunteer Care Workers did their best to visit children in their homes. This week we praise God that transport restrictions have been lifted. This has enabled our Local Team to return to the communities and support the Care Workers by encouraging them in person. It also means they are able to visit children, like this family from Ilaje in Lagos, in their homes, supporting them spiritually and physically and ensuring they have access to their daily meal. This photo taken recently during a home visit.

Like many countries around the world, in Zambia it’s now a requirement to wear face masks in public. Care Workers and the local office team in Kabwe have been making simple masks together out of chitenge fabric, rubber bands and string. They will use them when doing essential shopping for our Care Points as well as whilst providing children with their daily meal.

Understanding the vital role that hand washing plays in the fight against COVID-19, Catherine, a Primary Caregiver in the community of Chibuli, Zambia, has come up with a creative way to help her family safely wash their hands. Using supplies from around her home, she has created this jug and stick system.

The importance of good hygiene and hand washing has long been an important part of life at our Care Points and we've been more intentional over the last few years. Now, across Africa, as we continue to serve a nutritious meal each day, Care Workers and local office staff are even more focused on ensuring our children understand the importance of proper hand washing and increased hygiene standards in this season.

For many all over the world Good Friday looked very different this year. For the children in Mafambisa Community, South Africa it truly was a ‘Good’ Friday. It was a day where they experienced the love of Christ through their dedicated Care Workers, who despite fears and even some opposition from within their own community are continuing to provide safety and food security for the most vulnerable children they serve, keeping with government regulation to continue to provide essential services during the nationwide lockdown.
Hello Hands at Work Friends and Family around the world. With the ongoing concerns surrounding Coronavirus (COVID-19) we want to assure you that we are closely monitoring the situation and its impact on the most vulnerable here in Africa, on our partners and friends outside of Africa, and on all of our staff and volunteers. We aim to be responsible, wise and discerning, listening well to advice given from health care professionals and governments. However we also aim to use this time as an opportunity to let love conquer fear and for Christ's light to shine in the darkness. We will not only continue in our work but, in the light of this challenge, will look at ways in which we can increase our care of the most vulnerable children and their elderly care givers. Join us in praying for all those affected around the world and across Africa.

16-year-old Joseph* took it upon himself to try and find a solution in helping to protect the children who attend the Care Point in Chigodole, Mozambique. Each day children come here in small groups to receive what is often their only meal that day. He arrived at the Care Point early and used the materials he could find to create small benches, metres apart, so that the other children could sit down at a safe distance whilst eating their meal. Joseph is known for being creative and willing to serve in any way that he can, to support the Care Workers who have made the Care Point a place where he feels valued and appreciated. Join us in continuing to pray for the most vulnerable families and for children, like Joseph, who responsibly and creatively take action in caring for their communities.












