The Story of Oshoek Community
In 2009, George Snyman, the co-founder of Hands at Work, stood overlooking the Oshoek Community with a pastor friend, who said, “It’s the worst community I’ve ever seen”. Later, George met a local principal who said, “So many of the orphans are disorientated. They don’t even know what day it is”. Hands at Work began building a relationship with Bambanani Community Based Organisation (CBO), and partnered to care for the most vulnerable children in the area.
Oshoek is located on the border of South Africa and Eswatini. It is a major trucking route, making the women extremely vulnerable, but also exposing the community to drug use. There are few opportunities for employment. Other challenges in Oshoek include the high number of people from Eswatini who come to South Africa in search of a better life but without identification documents. Without ID, they struggle to find work and earn a living for their families.
56 Children Supported
4 Care Workers Coordinated by Sylvia
Basic Services Started in 2012
1 km from the OSHOEK Local Office
In addition to providing the most vulnerable children with food security and support with education and basic health care, the Care Workers from the Bambanani CBO visit the children in their homes, building strong relationships of love and trust. These Holy Home Visits enable the Care Workers to support each child’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs on an individual basis. Additionally, it helps to accurately assess each child’s practical needs and make a plan for how to best care for them.
In the beginning of 2016, toilets were constructed and a fence was put up at the Care Point, increasing the health and safety of the children. Later, a Care Point building was constructed and eventually painted by the Care Workers and children. These bright and vibrant colours are a beautiful representation of the new life happening in Oshoek.
Meet Noah
For 14-year-old Noah*, the Care Point provides a crucial sense of security. Along with his three siblings, they all depend on their grandmother, Dalila* as the Primary Caregiver for the whole family. Originally from Eswatini and without South African documentation, Dalila does not have access to government assistance, leaving this family extremely vulnerable. To make ends meet, she does laundry for the local police, and with the meager earnings, tries to provide for her grandchildren. Currently living in a temporary shelter after their previous landlord noticed their vulnerability and tried to take advantage of them, Noah and his family face uncertainty once again. Thankfully, the Care Point is a source of hope, not just for Noah and his siblings, but Dalila as well, who has even committed to being a Care Worker.
The local Hands at Work team in Oshoek 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 Bambanani. It also gives administrative support, including helping with funding proposals, monitoring and evaluation, bookkeeping and reporting to donors.
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