The Story of Kisunka Community

Kisunka is located fifty kilometres east of Likasi, on the shores of Lake Changalele and consists of five smaller communities that together make up a wider community of about five thousand people. This region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is known for its exceptionally high rates of leprosy, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. 

People living in Kisunka depend on the most basic means of survival and their diet is restricted to what can be grown or caught, with fish and maize-meal being the staple food. Being far removed from trading centres, markets, health care and educational facilities is one of the greatest struggles for people living in Kisunka to overcome. As the cost of living continues to rise, the poorest of the poor are hit hardest and being able to provide for one’s family becomes impossible. 

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140 Children currently Supported

14 Care Workers Coordinator by Mwenya

Basic Services Started in 2012

45 Km from the Likasi Local Office 

Since the Shibukeni Community Based Organisation (CBO) was formed in 2012, it has grown rapidly. Initially, volunteer Care Workers from the local church were caring for 50 of the most vulnerable children, however, over the years, as the vulnerability within Kisunka continued to grow, the number increased to 200 children. Within Kisunka, four Care Points operate under the umbrella of the Shibukeni CBO. The purpose of having multiple Care Points is to limit the distance that the children have to travel between their homes and the Care Point. 

The Care Workers have built relationships of love and trust with each child, knowing their family situation and individual needs. In knowing the children by name, the Care Workers are giving value and worth to each child. The Care Workers are passionate about advocating on behalf of the children they care for; identifying their needs by visiting them in their homes and spending time with them at the Care Points. In addition to supporting the children’s emotional and spiritual needs, the Shibukeni CBO is committed to ensuring that the children receive the three essential services of food security, education and basic health care. 

Across the community, utilities have been updated and solutions to problems found. At Kitondo, one of the zones where a Care Point operates, children struggled to attend school during the rainy season, as a big river would form, cutting them off. The local Hands at Work team in Likasi mobilised the community and built a bridge; a solution beneficial to all. At the Care Point in the Kasepa zone, a new toilet was constructed in 2019, which along with the provision of a secure, covered well to provide clean water, helps to ensure the health of the children and prevent disease. 

Meet Tristan

Care Worker Kilambe from the Shibukeni CBO is committed to caring for 16-year-old Tristan*. Kilambe shares, “Tristan has found a family at the Life Centre, where he is involved in the youth group and encourages others to live a good life.” However, life has not always held this same level of hope for Tristan. After the death of his parents, Tristan moved in with his aunt, where he eventually slipped into malnourishment due to a lack of proper care. When his older sister heard what was happening, she called Tristan to come stay with her family in Kisunka. To provide for Tristan and her three children, she leaves early in the morning and travels 28 miles to sell fish in another community, only to return late in the evening. Thankfully, the Care Workers are committed to caring for Tristan, ensuring he receives a hot, nutritious meal daily, which has improved his health greatly.

The local Hands at Work team in Likasi currently supports seven 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 Shibukeni. It also gives administrative support, including helping with funding proposals, monitoring and evaluation, bookkeeping and reporting to donors.  

BE INSPIRED BY OTHER STORIES FROM THE DRC
Meet Mwete
Meet Mwete

Raising a large family isn’t easy but Mama Safi isn’t alone in caring for Mwete. He has a bigger family of support at the Care Point, with the Care Workers and the other children.

Update: Volcanic Eruption in Goma, DRC
Update: Volcanic Eruption in Goma, DRC

On Saturday evening we heard the news that there was an eruption of the volcano called Mount Nyiragongo, which is situated in Goma. And of course it immediately caused huge panic and people started fleeing into Rwanda immediately, and some people fled to the nearest city outside Goma called Sake.

Meet Tina
Meet Tina

Tina and her siblings were struggling with their health when they were discovered by the local volunteer Care Workers from the Maisha Community Based Organisation (CBO). Initially, Tina couldn’t play, and rarely smiled. Her hair was falling out, her belly was protruding and her feet were swollen; all symptoms that she was severely malnourished.

My Calling - Angel Musoka
My Calling - Angel Musoka

Through serving with Hands at Work, I have learned what it means to forgive. A few years ago, I felt the Holy Spirit telling me to forgive my auntie and pray a prayer of forgiveness. I was able to talk with her and release the bitterness and bondage that I had in my heart. Afterwards I felt joy and a new sense of connection with her.

A Vision that Keeps You Coming Back
A Vision that Keeps You Coming Back

I was surprised, moved and thankful for the things that had changed. New additions to the team. New Care Points serving more children than was previously possible. New dreams and imaginative possibilities for partnership with the international church.

Meet Liu
Meet Liu

In February 2017, Emerance, a dedicated local volunteer Care Worker, from the Maisha Community Based Organisation (CBO) was passing by the fields and noticed four young children working in the field and Liu laying lifeless in her great-grandmother’s lap; helpless and severally malnourished. Emerance acted out of compassion and urgency and took the children directly to the Care Point, so they could receive a meal that day. She knew that if they did not eat, there was a possibility that they would not survive.

2017 Watchword Reflections
2017 Watchword Reflections

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need and practice hospitality.” Romans 12:12-13

Several Hands at Work volunteers reflect on how the watchword for 2017 has impacted them:

Care Workers Across Africa
Care Workers Across Africa

Care Workers are the key in bringing healing and transformation to the lives of our children. They are men and women from the local churches within our communities who recognize their Biblical mandate and answer their call to care for the most vulnerable children. They demonstrate what it means to give freely, love unconditionally, and sacrifice everything. Often, Care Workers face their own traumas and live in dire poverty, just as the children they care for do, but their determination to persevere and care despite their own circumstances challenges everyone they come into contact with. They are greatest in the Kingdom of God!

A Miracle - Praise
A Miracle - Praise

Just a few weeks ago, Blessings had the opportunity to return to the DRC and visit Praise again. He shares an update about him and says, “This year Praise turned three. Last year when I met him, he was very sick – at two years old he was not able to stand on his own. I had very little hope that he would make it in life. We surrounded him with prayer and interceded, but I still had little hope, and doubt overwhelmed my heart.

Praise
Praise

Praise’s grandmother Bertha began caring for him, but she was desperately poor and trying to survive. Praise was hungry - continually crying. People in the community said he would die and tried to put ritual charms around him but Bertha refused and knew God would provide. After her husband passed away many years ago, she said she learned to trust God throughout any hardship.