The Story of Chinku Community
The community of Chinku has a large population, with many people coming to Malawi from Mozambique because of the civil war. The majority of people living in Chinku are subsistence farmers who live well below the poverty line and struggle to provide for their families. Some of the additional challenges in Chinku are HIV/AIDS and a lack of access to clean water and medical care.
When Erick, a teacher and pastor in Chinku Community, realised the desperate need to care for the most vulnerable children, he, together with a group of newly mobilised Care Workers, partnered with Hands at Work to form the Chisangalalo Community Based Organisation (CBO). Today, there are 21 dedicated Care Workers who are committed to knowing 130 of the most vulnerable children by name and understanding their physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
145 Children currently supported
15 Care Workers Coordinated by MoseS
Basic Services Started in 2014
55 KM from the DedZA Local Office
Chinku is one of many communities in Malawi facing challenges due to several years of drought and poor harvests. In 2016, when the drought in Malawi was at its peak, Hands at Work implemented a food relief programme to ease the impact of the drought. Once-off provisions of essentials like maizemeal, oil and salt were given to the families of children who attend the Care Point in addition to the Care Workers and their families. A surprising but encouraging outcome of this was how the community embraced the work of Hands at Work and the local Care Workers in a new way, wholeheartedly welcoming the Care Workers and visiting teams into their homes. This gave the Care Workers great opportunities to share God’s life-giving love throughout the community!
Although Pastor Erick’s church is in disrepair, he willingly uses the building as a Care Point for the children. This is a beautiful outworking of the Hands at Work vision to join with the local church in caring for children. In 2022, Pastor Erick’s health declined, requiring him to move back to his rural home. Sadly, the current leaders at his church struggled to understand the vision of Hands at Work and have been pushing for the Chisangalalo CBO to find their own land to operate from. Thankfully Harold took over the leadership of the Chisangalalo CBO.
Earlier in 2023, Harold, who was the coordinator of the Chisangalalo CBO, joined the local Hands at Work team in Lobi and Care Worker Mose became the new coordinator. A highlight and answered prayer for the Chisangalalo CBO was the new land that was graciously given by the chief. Currently, a children’s shelter is being constructed (pictured left), with a kitchen and toilets to follow. Once completed, the Chisangalalo CBO will begin operating from the new land.
Despite the many challenges of Chinku, the Care Workers are committed to supporting and serving the most vulnerable in a Christ-like way. Please join us in lifting up the community of Chinku in prayer.
The local Hands at Work team in Lobi currently supports five 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 Chisangalalo. It also gives administrative support, including helping with funding proposals, monitoring and evaluation, bookkeeping and reporting to donors.
Be inspired by updates from Chinku Community.
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