The Story of Mchenga Community
Within Mchenga, life is challenging. In order to survive, many people farm, but without the necessary fertiliser and seeds, producing a good harvest is a struggle. A poor harvest means people aren’t able to provide food for their families, let alone buy clothing and pay school fees. Compounding these challenges is the distance of the clinic - forcing people to walk long distances to get the medical care they desperately need.
60 Children currently supported
9 Care Workers Coordinated by Felegesi
Basic Services Started in 2023
When Erick, a teacher and pastor in Chinku community, realised the desperate need to care for the most vulnerable children, he, together with a group of newly mobilised Care Workers, partnered with Hands at Work to form the Chisangalalo Community Based Organisation (CBO). As the Care Workers grew in their capacity to care for the children, second and third feeding points were established under the umbrella of the Chisangalalo CBO, reducing the distance many children needed to walk to the main Care Point. One of these feeding points was Mchenga.
In January 2023, the local Hands at Work team in Dedza, after seeing the ever-growing need in Mchenga community, decided to make Mchenga its own independent Care Point and CBO, with its own leadership and team of Care Workers. A ‘Foundations’ training was run in Mchenga, where the Dedza team shared with the Care Workers the foundation of Hands at Work and the importance of Holy Home Visits and Relationship Groups.
Meet China
For 12-year-old Chiwa*, life has held more pain and responsibility than any child should have. In 2021, shortly after her parents’ divorce, her mother suffered a stroke which left her unable to walk or care for her children. The eldest of three, Chiwa stopped school and started caring for the family. Local Care Workers noticed the situation and invited the children to the Care Point. In April 2023, tragedy struck again when Chiwa’s mother passed away and the three siblings were split up. Chiwa moved in with her grandmother but, thankfully, the siblings can still see each other at the Care Point – a safe place where Chiwa can play with her friends and receive a hot, nutritious meal daily. The local Hands at Work team in Lobi and the Care Workers are advocating for Chiwa to return to school. Pray for God’s favour and that she will be allowed to return.
The local Hands at Work team in Lobi currently supports five 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 Tima. It also gives administrative support, including helping with funding proposals, monitoring and evaluation, bookkeeping and reporting to donors.
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