2020 YEAR END REPORT
HANDS AT WORK IN AFRICA UK
Dear Hands at Work in Africa UK Family and Friends
2020 has been an extraordinary and challenging year! We have experienced a small part of the uncertainty that the communities we serve live with all the time – uncertainty about the future that makes it very difficult to make any plans; uncertainty and fear about our health; uncertainty, for some of us, about employment and our income; uncertainty and concern for family and friends. Like the communities we serve we have had to learn to trust in the faithfulness of God and to thank God for blessings amidst all these uncertainties. We echo the prayer so often used by our Care Workers and Caregivers, “We do not take your faithfulness for granted, Lord”.
This report is offered in thankfulness to God for His faithfulness, reflected in its pages, and to you and all who have remained faithful to our children, our Care Workers and Caregivers and their communities by the generosity of your giving, the commitment of your prayer and the constancy of your partnership. We do not take God’s faithfulness for granted, nor do we take your faithfulness and generosity for granted either. Thank you for being willing to stand with our children and to be their voice.
May God bless us all in this coming year, in order that we may continue to be a blessing to others.
Hands at Work in Africa UK January 2021
CRISIS RESPONSE | COVID - 19
“We want to seize this moment and we want to be laser focused to do whatever we can to provide the best support for our communities. We need to reposition ourselves, while still serving exactly the same vision …” - George Snyman
When COVID-19 hit Africa, the vulnerability sharply increased for those living in communities served by Hands at Work. Our goal was to continue to protect our children while, at the same time, building resilience in our communities and their leaders. In a season where fear and uncertainty filled the hearts and minds of those around the world, including our children, Primary Caregivers and Care Workers, we thank God for our African leaders who chose to run towards the challenges and remain dedicated to the care of the most vulnerable, recognizing that without their support the children might not survive.
COME | ADVOCATE | PRAY| GIVE
‘How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”’ – Isaiah 52:7
In 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic had taken hold in Africa, Hands at Work received seven teams to South Africa, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Zambia to serve and be transformed by meeting God amongst the poor and vulnerable. In February, Hands at Work welcomed our new intake, consisting of six volunteers from Australia, Canada and the UK, who joined a team of over 130 in Africa and over 60 serving in Hands at Work’s International Offices.
COME | ADVOCATE |PRAY| GIVE
‘Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.’ – Proverbs 31:8-9 (NIV)
In this unique season, many of our partners have found creative ways to advocate for the communities that they support in Africa and to stay connected. From intentional times of prayer to supporting the upgrading of facilities, our partners have been lifting up the needs of those who they support even when they couldn’t physically be in Africa. It has been amazing to see the momentum of our partnerships continue to grow and be built upon throughout 2020.
COME | ADVOCATE |PRAY| GIVE
“Prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters.
Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.” — Ephesians 6:18 (The Message)
In 2020 the global Hands at Work community joined together in praying for the needs of the orphaned and widowed in Africa. Through various platforms such as social media, the prayer app, 40 Days of Prayer, and regular prayer rhythms in our International Offices, the Hands at Work community across the world remained united. Prayer needs were regularly shared from Africa, bringing people deeper into what God is doing and inviting them to join in intercession.
COME | ADVOCATE | PRAY| GIVE
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.’ – Luke 6:38
With the support of our partners across the world, local volunteer Care Workers were able to support 7,420 of the most vulnerable children in 63 communities in eight countries across Africa. Together, your prayers, financial help and advocacy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic had an amazing impact. We thank you so much for your support and involvement in making this possible!
