Oliver Westmancott, Chair of Hands at Work in Africa UK, writes:
By now, most of you will have heard the news that Becci Leung has stepped down as the National Coordinator of Hands at Work UK in order to take up a new role with the Müllers organisation in Bristol, one of our partner organisations. She completed her time with us at the beginning of July.
Whilst we’re really sad to be losing her, this is a great opportunity for Becci and we’re fully supportive. She has made a huge contribution to Hands at Work over the past few years, building relationships, growing partnerships, and bringing real energy and creativity to the role. I’m sure you will agree that she will be very much missed.
Reflecting on her time with Hands at Work, Becci writes:
As I write this, I’m getting ready to say goodbye to Hands at Work after ten years of being part of the organisation.
In 2015 I sat in a church service listening to a team from my church report back on a visit to their partner community of Bhandeni in Eswatini (then Swaziland). The stories that were shared inspired me to apply to become a long-term volunteer in Africa, and for two years from February 2016 I lived at the Hub in South Africa whilst also travelling to Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia. Much of my role involved supporting teams, travel coordination and administrative tasks, alongside spending time in communities.
During those two years I was privileged to see and play a very small part in an amazing model of care. I saw people in communities advocating for their vulnerable neighbours, I saw children’s lives transformed because somebody noticed and cared for them, I saw Caregivers show incredible resilience in the face of challenges, and I experienced worship which stretched my understanding of faith. I saw partnership and friendship across cultures, languages and countries – the global Church working together to protect and care for vulnerable children.
In 2018 I returned to the UK and spent a year working for another charity whilst continuing to volunteer with Hands at Work. One of my standout memories from that season was taking a group of young people away for a weekend in Staffordshire to connect, encourage one another and think more deeply about Hands at Work and what it means to live lives shaped by justice and compassion.
By 2019 I felt a strong calling to volunteer full-time with Hands at Work in the UK. I left my job and joined the UK office, working alongside David and Jane Newsome. Not long later, Covid hit. There were huge challenges globally, but seeing the response of Hands at Work across the world was incredibly moving. Because of the depth of relationships that had been built, communities were able to continue to care for children, partnerships endured, and people gave generously. It was a powerful reminder that Hands at Work has always been built on relationships rather than programmes.
In the Autumn of 2024, David and Jane stepped down from their role as joint UK Coordinators and I took the role on. The past eighteen months have been busy, stretching and meaningful. It has been a privilege to serve the UK community in this role and to walk alongside so many supporters, volunteers, advocates, churches and partners.
As I prepare to leave, I find myself reflecting on how much Hands at Work has changed over the years, and also how much has remained the same.
The organisation has grown and developed in many ways. There have been leadership transitions, growth into new communities, and the graduation of others. Countries and communities have faced enormous challenges, including droughts, cyclones and conflict. We have faced challenges in the UK too. Yet throughout all of this, Hands at Work has remained rooted in relationship and in the belief that every child should be known by name, loved and cared for. I have only grown more convinced of the value and importance of this model of care. And through it all, we have seen the faithfulness of God, and continued trust for the seasons ahead.
To everyone who has been part of my journey over the past ten years – thank you. It has been a gift to serve alongside you, to learn from you, and to witness the many ways that love is expressed through this work.
I leave with deep gratitude, many treasured memories, and a continued belief in the power of relationship, community, and faithful presence to transform lives.