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September 4, 2022
When Care Worker Maria was visiting the homes of children in Macadeira, she met Jona* and his family. Jona’s father has passed away, leaving his mother, Rosa*, with the sole responsibility of caring for him and his five siblings. This responsibility is made extremely difficult by her mental disability. She tries looking for odd jobs in the community, but this is rarely sufficient. Without the means to provide food, school fees were not even a possibility.
The support of the Care Workers extends beyond Jona and his siblings. Care Worker Maria has taken Rosa under her wing and is committed to praying with her and helping her learn how she can best care for her children. She is a strong source of encouragement for the family, showing Rosa that she and her children are not alone. – Macadeira Community, Mozambique
July 29, 2022
Praying before they receive their hot and nutritious meal is something that the most vulnerable children are encouraged to do on a daily basis. Pictured here is a group of children in Macadeira Community, Mozambique, being earnestly led in prayer by another child (kneeling in a striped dress).
March 28, 2022
Pictured here is volunteer Care Worker Maria in Macadeira Community, Mozambique, cutting the hair of one of the children who comes to the Care Point after it had become tangled and unclean, which could lead to an infection if not taken care of. In addition to providing the children with a hot, nutritious meal and a safe place to play and spend their time, the Care Workers are committed to caring for the children’s health and hygiene.
August 24, 2021
“The kids are great grandchildren to me. They fill the gaps in my heart.” - Maria, a Care Worker from Macadeira, Mozambique.
December 29, 2019
Cyclone Idai caused widespread food insecurity, with families losing their entire crop harvest. In response, Hands at Work mobilised communities like Matsinho in Mozambique – the hardest hit – to establish community gardens with fast-growing crops. In a time of mass chaos with many people feeling paralysed by the enormity of the destruction, this community garden provided a source of hope! A community meeting was called for Hands at Work to cast the vision to local people, and land was offered by a local church leader. A written agreement was drafted and put into place which specified the terms of the garden, including expectations of input and how the harvest would be divided. Since the garden in Matsinho Community was planted, two successful bean crops have been harvested and apportioned accordingly.
With remaining funds from the garden in Matsinho, two additional gardens were also planted in the communities of Chigodole and Macadeira, in Mozambique. Potatoes and cabbages were successfully planted and harvested in Chigodole, and in Macadeira, potatoes and green vegetables were planted. These gardens provided the local Care Workers, Primary Care Givers, church leaders and children with the means for nutritious food to help combat serious food insecurity. An encouraging consequence was also an increased sense of unity built up amongst local people in the hardest-hit regions; people working together, despite their loss, to create a means of survival for their future.
November 4, 2019
“I know the pain of not having parents, and so I became a Care Worker because I wanted to help my community and to help children who were like me. I'm not their biological mother but I can be a mother figure to them.” – Isabelle, a Care Worker in Macadeira Community, Mozambique
April 15, 2018
Macadeira Community, Mozambique
Henda* has beautiful, bright eyes that have witnessed much pain. After losing both parents, Henda and her two older brothers were taken in by an uncle. The uncle forced them to work long days of hard labour and did not even provide enough food to sustain them. As a result, David*, the eldest brother ran away. After some time, however, he returned to fight for his younger siblings. It literally took a violent altercation before the younger siblings were released from the hard labour they had been forced into. Henda and her brother Antonio* came with David to the community of Macadeira. While their brother’s love had bought them freedom, they still had no home, food or adequate clothing. A local church leader, Margret, took pity on the children and offered for them to live with her. But Margret also had no way to provide for the children. David looked for jobs to support them, but work was almost impossible to come by.
When the Macadeira Care Workers heard about this family’s situation, they did everything in their power to try and provide for them. Even before they could officially welcome them into the feeding program, the Care Workers found ways to save food and deliver it into the mouths of the hungry children. Henda and Antonio would come to the Care Point in the morning and, because they were not in school, would spend the whole day there. Henda and Antonio loved it there and quickly earned the love and affection of all the Care Workers. When two other children in the community moved away, Henda and Antonio could finally, officially, become part of the feeding program and could also then be assisted with their financial needs for school.
Tragically, in September 2017, Antonio was struck by a vehicle and was killed. Henda had been a witness to the event. The Care Workers and all the children grieved alongside Henda as she experienced yet another devastating loss. Antonio’s absence is felt acutely at the Care Point where he was so dearly loved. But we pray that the deep sense of belonging that Henda feels amongst the Care Workers and her peers will be used by God to bring healing and comfort.
February 16, 2018
Day 3 – Clean and Accessible Water
In Mozambique, access to clean and safe drinking water is limited. Pray for fresh and clean water sources to become available in communities where clean water is scarce. As people walk to fetch water, ask God to give safety and energy as they walk a long distance for this basic necessity.
The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst; I, the Lord, will answer them Myself, as the God of Israel I will not forsake them. – Isaiah 41:17
Towards the end of 2017, a new bore hole was built in Macaderia, Mozambique.
#40Days2018
November 14, 2017
In Macadeira, Mozambique there are 150 children being supported by 19 Care Workers. Read more: http://www.handsatwork.org/mozambique/macadeira/
150 of the most vulnerable children in Macadeira Community receive a daily meal, access to education and basic health care.
The Care Workers meet on a regular basis to pray and share the word of God together.