Here at Hands at Work we love to hear people’s stories and today we have a great, inspiring story from the UK to share with you. So grab yourself a cuppa and get comfy as we chat with Yasmine Morson-Mills who, at 19 years old, has set up a business during lock down with her mum, Esther.
Hi Yasmine! Tell us a bit about yourself.
Hi, I’m Yasmine Morson-Mills, I’m 19 years old and I live in Stafford. I finished my A-levels in Summer 2020 and I am currently setting up my own business whilst continuing studies online.
And what’s your connection to Hands at Work?
I first heard about Hands at Work in a school assembly at Wolgarston High School in Penkridge, which is part of the Link for Life Partnership. I desperately wanted to go on the first visit with the school but there was a lot of interest. Three of my friends were picked to go, which was hugely exciting, so I helped them to fundraise and listened to all their experiences, until I was able to go myself in August 2019.
What did you do on your visit in 2019?
We visited the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, which was an incredible experience, and then we headed to the Hands at Work Hub in White River. After settling in, we visited Care Points from Monday to Friday. We visited the communities of Mafambisa, Share and Zwelisha, as well as attending the morning meetings at the Hub, including ladies’ prayer. On the last weekend we visited Kruger National Park and Kaapsehoop.
How did this trip to South Africa impact you?
The trip I took to South Africa massively impacted me and my whole future. The drastic differences between our ways of life changed the way I look and feel about a lot of things. For example, I think about a little girl at Mafambisa who watched me write with a pen and she commented, saying how beautiful my pen was. It drastically impacted the way I thought. Such a simple object in my life was a treasure to her, which was extremely difficult to accept.
Is there a particular family or child who you met on your visit who has stayed with you?
A particular story of a child who impacted me was of a little girl named Thobile* from Mafambisa. Towards the end of the day on our second visit to Mafambisa, a little girl came up to us and started playing. Although she was very shy at first, she ended up playing with our hair and sitting with us, and it really stood out to me. On our last visit to Mafambisa (the next day) we were making Holy Home Visits and Trudie, a member of my team, and I went with Prudence and Melody, two Hands at Work volunteers, on a long walk – and it was to Thobile’s house! I couldn’t believe that we were going to the home of the little girl who had made such an impact on me the day before. Her house was right on the edge of the community, a good half an hour’s walk from the Care Point, which this little girl walked alone. Thobile lives with her aunt and other family members and they all share a hut made out of corrugated metal sheets leaning up against one another, one of the worst buildings I saw on my home visits. We spent a long time chatting to Thobile’s aunt about their situation, and learnt that they were refugees from Mozambique. We walked back with Thobile to the Care Point where she would receive a hot meal, and spent the rest of the day with her.
What are you doing now?
As well as continuing to advocate for Hands at Work at events and churches, during lockdown my mum and I set up a business selling ethically sourced tea and coffee called The Tea Bees. We have included Hands at Work in the business in many ways, such as through social media, blogs on our website, and fundraisers. We also have a unique code for anyone involved with Link for Life and Hands at Work to use at the checkout that gives 10% of that purchase back to Hands at Work. I wanted to include Hands at Work in the business because I really want to continue my support towards them as well as advocate to our customers by sharing my support and stories.
I am also a part of the Link for Life group, which holds meetings to organise fundraising, events, and to share updates from Africa. We support one another to advocate for the children and families cared for by Hands at Work.
This sounds great. Where can we find out a bit more about The Tea Bees?
We have an Instagram page called @Theteabeesuk and our website is www.theteabees.com
What’s next for you?
When it’s possible, I hope to return to South Africa for an extended time. I will continue advocating for Hands at Work through my business as well as in my everyday life.
Thank you for chatting to us, Yasmine, and for all that you do for Hands at Work. Wishing you all the best with The Tea Bees!
*child’s name changed