The Story of Mahlabathini Community

The community of Mahlabathini is located far from any borders and is known for having a desert landscape; it is very dry, flat and sparse. Because the landscape makes subsistence farming difficult, most people in the community are unable to grow their own food, unless they are one of the few families fortunate enough to have plots of land near the river.

With few opportunities for formal employment, many people rely on finding odd jobs in the community or working for the owners of marijuana farms to survive. This is a dangerous job as it is illegal and could lead to arrest, and the people who are purchasing the marijuana are often associated with participating in criminal activities. The community also struggles with strongholds such as alcohol abuse, witchcraft, and mixing the gospel of Christ with traditional beliefs.

50 Children currently supported

Basic Services Started in APril 2025

Towards the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, Hands at Work started exploring the possibility of expanding the reach of their care into new communities in the Phophonyane region of Eswatini. As the Hands at Work team in Phophonyane started asking local people questions, desiring to serve in the most vulnerable places, they were directed to the community of Mahlabathini. Hearing that there are many children who have been left by their parents to live with their elderly grandparents, and that the clinic, schools and police station are a far walk from the community, the team knew that they should visit and see the reality of how people were living. The team started the process of walking in Mahlabathini by meeting with the local chief and community leaders to explain their intent, and discerning if this truly was the community that God was calling them to serve.

Prayerfully discerning that this was the right community, Hands at Work started visiting the local churches in Mahlabathini; identifying if there was a desire and willingness to get involved in this work. The church leaders captured the vision and volunteer Care Workers for Mahlabathini were found amongst the congregations - women with a heart to minister to those in need.

From there, the Care Workers began walking with the Phophonyane team to visit the homes of families in the community and in hearing their stories, assess and identify the most vulnerable children, who would begin coming to the Care Point. In April 2025, the Care Workers in Mahlabathini began serving 50 of the most vulnerable children, ensuring that they receive the three essential services of food, education and health care, in addition to caring for their emotional and spiritual needs.

 Also in April 2025, there was a Maranatha Workshop for the Care Workers, where the Phophonyane team shared about who Jesus is and can be in their lives and what it means to serve the most vulnerable. While this is the simply the beginning of the journey in Mahlabathini, we pray in expectation that as the Care Workers grow in their understanding of Christ’s love, it will overflow to the children and Primary Caregivers, as well as the wider community that they serve.

The local Hands at Work team in Phophonyane currently supports three Community Based Organisations, which exist to care for the most vulnerable in their communities. The office provides training, networking, and encouragement to those Community Based Organisations like Phophonyane. It also gives administrative support, including helping with funding proposals, monitoring and evaluation, bookkeeping and reporting to donors.

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