Hands at Work in Africa
Who we are
We are a Christian non-profit organisation working in vulnerable communities across sub-Saharan Africa where HIV/AIDS, poverty and numbers of orphans are highest and support structures are very low. We help the local church in those communities to effectively care for the orphaned and vulnerable. Our ministry is to all those in need, regardless of race, class or religion.
What we do
We identify local Christian leaders within vulnerable communities who are already demonstrating a passion to serve the poor and broken in their community and to fulfill the biblical mandate to care for the orphaned and vulnerable. We support those leaders in developing a locally-owned organisation in their community and begin a long-term relationship of service and partnership, where we continually work to increase the community's capacity to provide care in an effective and holistic manner.
Where we do it
Hands at Work in Africa has a staff of 35 at it's hub near White River, South Africa. We also have offices in each of the African countries where we work that exists solely to serve our community organisations located across Africa by sharing knowledge, imparting skills, and mentoring leaders and volunteers.
Hands at Work‚¢€™s network of international churches and organizations also participate as capacity-building tools for our communities by supplying resources, sending short-term teams and sending individuals for mid-term and long-term service. Our international offices stir up individuals and groups to partner with our African brothers and sisters in caring for the broken communities in Africa.
How we do it
Hands at Work in Africa has a network of more than 80 community based organisations across sub-Saharan Africa and manages a constant flow of information, resources, and people out to and among those organisations to be used in the service of increasing sustainability and local capacity. Institutional care (such as hospitals and orphanages) in these communities is often completely overwhelmed by the magnitude of the HIV/AIDS and orphan crisis it faces, so, in accordance with UNAIDS recommendations, we help our communities to develop community-based solutions for the crises around them.
South Africa
We envision the local Church in Africa effectively caring for the dying, orphans and widows, and unified in this mission with the Church outside Africa.
Our mission is to, through relationship with the local Church in Africa, challenge, encourage, develop and support the ministry of servanthood among those in need in their community through the replication of the Hands At Work Community Intervention Model.
We believe the biblical mandate to care for the dying, widows and orphans is not only for the Church in Africa, but also elsewhere, and Hands at Work will be a prophetic voice to the Churches outside Africa, challenging them to fulfill their mandate.
Our Core Values
Since the very beginning, Hands at Work has been governed by its core values. They help shape our culture and define our character. They guide how we behave and make decisions. The following list represents what is truly important to us as an organization. As Hands at Work we are committed to:
Loving God and our neighbour
Reaching the poorest of the poor
Living servant-hood
Supporting local community ownership
Valuing relationships
Prioritising God, Family, Ministry
Being accountable
Giving freely
Through the years these simple yet invaluable principles have guided our decision making process as well as helped form the foundation on which we build our work.
