1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
September 26, 2022
When Care Worker Eddy met Pascal and visited his home, he realised the great poverty Pascal faced was not just physical but also emotional, too. He saw how Pascal carried a broken heart from a broken home. Eddy, inspired by Christ’s love to do this work, desired to see a more abundant life for Pascal. Over time, Eddy has become Pascal's confidant. Pascal goes to him with his struggles and appreciates having a father figure in his life. As Pascal continues to come to the Care Point to receive food, Eddy sees how his demeanour is changing; he now seems less burdened. He has started building friendships and enjoys playing football with the other youth at the Care Point. Pascal is starting to see hope break into his life through the love and service of Christ’s followers at the Care Point. – Kisunka Community, #TheDemocraticRepublicOfTheCongo
August 19, 2022
“I serve the children because this is God’s work, not man’s.” – Eddie, a Care Worker in Kisunka Community, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
June 13, 2022
During a youth day in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, youth leaders from four of the communities in the Likasi region gathered in Kisunka Community for a day of fellowship and going deeper into God’s word. Today we invite you to praise God for the youth who gave their lives to Jesus.
October 8, 2021
“It was so special to see the different layers of Hands at Work coming together, from the children, the Primary Caregivers, the local pastors and Care Workers – both male and female. We sang and worshipped God as a family, and heard from God’s word. We heard about the incredible love of our Father, but also the call to have no other idols apart from Him. He is the only one that can bring joy and peace. He is the one who brings life and can free us from our chains and bondage.” - Alicia Ralph, International Volunteer (Canada)
While Alicia was in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, together with the local Hands at Work team in Likasi and other Hands at Work volunteers from South Africa, she had the opportunity to participate in Community Prayer in Kisunka. Community Prayer is a chance for the Hands at Work family to gather in one of the communities that we are supporting to spend time encouraging the Care Workers and worshipping God.
June 5, 2021
In order to earn a living, 15-year-old Harris’s* elder brother, Louis*, sold fish in the local market that he caught from the river in his community. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the markets were closed and Louis, like many others, immediately lost his source of income.
Thankfully, the Care Workers are committed to walking with the family in their challenges and continue to support the family with the provision of a hot, nutritious meal daily. Pray that God will make a way for people to continue earning a living through this time of instability.
Kisunka Community, Democratic Republic of the Congo
July 6, 2019
Kisunka Community (Democratic Republic of Congo) is a community divided. A stream runs through the middle, separating the Care Points called Kitando 1 from the other side, Kitando 2. For years, the children of Kitando 1 have been cut off from the school during the rainy season when the stream turns into a river. While many Primary Caregivers feared their children crossing the river, those who did would swim across with their school uniform held above their heads in plastic bags. They would dry off, get dressed and carry on to meet up with their classmates from Kitando 2. The community of Kisunka has recently been brought together.
The local Hands at Work team in Likasi, the Care Workers of Kitando 1 & 2, the Primary Caregivers, the church leaders and members from the surrounding community came together, united to find a solution to the dangers that children were facing in order to attend school. A decision was made to build a bridge across the river to ensure the safety of the children. Members of the community committed to providing the necessary supplies like sacks and wood as the people came together to start construction. The work started by diverting the water and securing the wood poles before laying on the top of the bridge.
Today, it is safer and easier for the children to go to school. Several of the people who helped with the construction of the bridge have been interested in the Community Based Organisation operating at the Kitando 1 & 2 Care Points. Two men have committed to being Care Workers. Hands at Work in Africa is committed to seeing local community ownership coming alive.
June 17, 2019
Kisunka Community, Democratic Republic of Congo.
16-year-old Sarah’s* father struggles with a chronic illness which means that providing for his family is difficult. Taking on the role of breadwinner, Sarah’s mother tries to sell vegetables in the market. In 2014, when the Kisunka Care Workers were out doing Holy Home Visits, they met Sarah and her family and, seeing how Sarah’s mother was shouldering the family’s responsibilities, invited Sarah and her siblings to the Life Centre, where they could ensure the children would be cared for holistically.
At the Life Centre, Sarah is joyful and energetic and enjoys playing games – particularly skipping – with her friends. She is hard working and serves the Care Workers by helping to clean the dishes after the children have received their daily meal.
October 24, 2017
Bonte* is a six-year-old boy who is one of Junelle’s* two living children. Junelle’s husband was working in a nearby mine when he was killed, and she then suffered the devastating loss of her first-born child in infancy. This grief and despair would seem too much for anybody to handle, yet Junelle gave birth again, a year ago, as a result of abuse from a stranger. Junelle often has epileptic seizures, causing not only embarrassment, but physical harm. Due to the unpredictable nature of her epilepsy, Junelle has been unable to find work.
But God has not forgotten Bonte’s family. This can be seen through the life and love brought by #CareWorker Rachel from Kisunka Community Based Organisation (CBO). Rachel sees this family exactly as they are – created in God’s image and loved deeply as His children. Junelle has learned to smile again because of the consistent encouragement and love that Rachel has shown to her family. God has seen Bonte and his family and has heard their cry. Pray for the continued healing of Bonte and his mother, and thank God that He is using loving Care Workers who are dedicated to making a difference in their lives.
#ServingTheMostVulnerable #ChristOurFoundation
200 of the most vulnerable children in Kisunka receive a daily meal, access to education and access to basic health care.
One of the desperately vulnerable homes in Kisunka Community.
Children play with an Australian International Volunteer at the Kisunka Care Point.