The Story of Livinza Community
The community of Livinza has a large population, with many people arriving in Malawi from Mozambique because of the civil war. Most people in Livinza are subsistence farmers who live well below the poverty line and struggle to provide for their families. The community also faces additional challenges such as HIV/AIDS, limited access to clean water, and inadequate medical care.
45 Children currently supported
10 Care Workers Coordinated by Lyness
Basic Services Started in 2025
Hands at Work’s involvement in Livinza began through the neighbouring community of Chinku, where the work first took root. Hands at Work began serving in Chinku when Erick, a local teacher and pastor, realised the urgent need to care for the most vulnerable children there. Together with a group of newly mobilised Care Workers, he partnered with Hands at Work to form the Chisangalalo Community Based Organisation (CBO). Currently, the CBO has 21 dedicated Care Workers who are committed to knowing 130 of the most vulnerable children by name and understanding their practical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
In Chinku, two sub-feeding points operated to provide children with access to the life-giving services of food security, access to education, and basic health care. Children would attend the feeding point closest to their home. In 2019, Hands at Work began to mobilise local volunteers from a few churches in one of the feeding point locations known as Livinza. Over time, Livinza’s capacity grew as the number of Care Workers gradually increased. Holy Home Visits became more frequent, and daily services were provided for the most vulnerable children. In April 2025, Livinza became an independent Community Based Organisation with a team of local volunteer Care Workers who care for 45 children. The Care Workers meet for weekly Relationship Groups where they can share their challenges and pray together.
Although Hands at Work owns a piece of land in Livinza, currently the Care Point is being operated out of a local community building managed by the church. There are plans to develop the land in the future.
The local Hands at Work team in Lobi currently supports six 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 Livinza. It also gives administrative support, including helping with funding proposals, monitoring and evaluation, bookkeeping and reporting to donors.
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