The Story of Mphunzi Community
The community of Mphunzi is located about 20 km from the nearest town of Dedza and is a more urban community. With little opportunities for employment, many people rely on farming small plots of land and selling vegetables in the nearby market. A shortage of clean drinking water requires people to walk far distances for water. Additional challenges in the community are prostitution and the fact that there many bars which leads to high levels of alcohol abuse. Each one of these challenges adds to the vulnerability of the people living in the community of Mphunzi.
120 CHILDREN CURRENTLY SUPPORTED
12 CARE WORKERS COORDINATED BY Sara
BASIC SERVICES STARTED IN 2021
26 KM FROM THE DEDZA LOCAL OFFICE
Hands at Work started serving in Mcheneke in 2009 and over the next five years began developed two sub feeding points. Slowly, Hands at Work began to mobilise local volunteers from a few churches in one of the feeding point locations known as Mphunzi by sharing the vision of Hands at Work. Though initially being operated under the Mcheneke Community Based Organisation (CBO), Mphunzi became a feeding point in 2014. Here children would have access to life-giving services of daily food security, access to education, and basic health care. Over the years, Mphunzi began to grow in its capacity when the number of Care Workers gradually increased. Holy Home Visits were happening frequently, and daily services were provided for the most vulnerable children. In January 2021, Mphunzi became its own independent CBO, operating out of its Care Point and with a team of local volunteer Care Workers who care for 120 of the most vulnerable children.
At the beginning, the Mphunzi Care Point was located at a local church, located on the edge of a busy marketplace with a bar next door. Having a bar in such close proximity to the Care Point, only increases the vulnerability of the most vulnerable children. Recognising the increased risk posed to the children, a new piece of land was purchased. This year, a new Care Point building was built. It includes a children’s shelter, kitchen, storeroom and toilet. The Mphunzi CBO is grateful for this new structure that provides a safe space for the children to play, eat and meet together. It also enables Care Workers to provide holistic care to some of the most vulnerable children in the community.
Meet Thoko
Thoko*, aged ten, and his five-year-old brother, Benn*, have had a tough start to their lives. Their father sadly passed away and their mother stays in Lilongwe searching for piecework. The two brothers stay with their grandmother who does her best to care for the children. The grandmother supports the family through piecework and farming, but with the rising costs of fertiliser, the harvest has not been good. Finding enough food to feed the family has been a big challenge. Care Worker Laina is a neighbour to Thoko. Seeing the family’s vulnerability, Laina shared their story with her fellow Care Workers. Following an assessment, Thoko and Benn were invited to join the CBO in 2021. They receive a hot, healthy meal at the Care Point every day and experience the love of Christ through the Care Workers, who are committed to the holistic care of this family.
The local Hands at Work team in Dedza 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 Mpata. It also gives administrative support, including helping with funding proposals, monitoring and evaluation, bookkeeping and reporting to donors.
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