The Story of Chisamba Community
In 2000, local Pastor Peter Mulenga was attending a Bible School in Luanshya that was connected to Africa School of Missions (ASM) in South Africa, where George and Carolyn Snyman had been students. Peter heard the vision of Hands at Work when George and Carolyn came to visit and shared the Biblical mandate to care for the vulnerable. At this time, George Snyman, co-founder of Hands at Work, began mentoring him in what it means to be a Care Worker. In 2003, Peter felt called to Chisamba and was shocked by the devastation that the HIV/AIDS epidemic was having on the community. Having been neglected as a child himself, the suffering Peter saw impacted him deeply and he knew that he needed to act immediately. In 2006, with the support of Hands at Work, Peter cast the vision to his local church: to see them unite as Christ’s body to care for the community’s most vulnerable children. His passion spurred on local Christians to volunteer as Care Workers and together they started doing home visits. Today, there are 26 Care Workers from several churches dedicating their time to serving the most vulnerable children in Chisamba.
100 Children currently Supported
24 Care Workers Coordinated by Winfridah
Basic Services Started in 2013
1 km from the Chisamba Local Office
In 2007, the Chisamba Community Based Organisation (CBO) started a Community School that operated out of a local church. This school bridged the gap for the most vulnerable children who cannot afford the school fees of a government school. Run by three volunteers, the school provides basic education for three- to seven-year-olds. In 2013, Hands at Work partnered with the Chisamba CBO, helping them to provide a hot nutritious meal to 50 of the most vulnerable children daily, in addition to supporting with their education and basic health care. Over the years, as the Chisamba CBO has grown in numbers and capacity, the number of children being cared for has increased from 50 to 150.
Over the past couple of years, the Chisamba CBO has committed to investing in the young people coming to the Care Point. Throughout 2020, a Youth Discipleship Programme was facilitated both in Chisamba and at the Kachele hub for four 17- to 19-year-olds. Having this intentional time with the young men had a great impact on their spiritual growth, evidenced by two of them being baptised. In addition to being spiritually discipled, they learnt practical life skills that they are able to use to help others in their community.
In 2020, a new Life Centre building was constructed on the Chisamba Care Point’s land, as well as new toilets, all of which enhance the health and safety of the most vulnerable children. The prayer is that the Life Centre will stand as a beacon of hope to the rest of the community for years to come.
Meet Elen
Elen* is the last born in her family, preceded by her four sisters. Sadly, her father passed away when she was only two years old, and the family struggled to make ends meet. Elen lost weight and her skin and hair became yellow from a lack of proper nutrition. Amid this trauma and grief, Elen and her sisters were identified by the local Care Workers as among the most vulnerable. Immediately they were brought under the care of the Isubilo CBO. Tragedy struck again when their mother passed away only two years later. The girls now live with their grandmother who struggles to fully care for her granddaughters, but thankfully she is not on her own. With the consistent support of the Care Workers, Elen is stronger, receiving regular medication for her illness, and is attending school. As Elen has been helped, she dreams of becoming a nurse so that she can help others.
The local Hands at Work team in Chisamba 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 Chisamba. It also gives administrative support, including helping with funding proposals, monitoring and evaluation, bookkeeping and reporting to donors.
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