The Story of Masasi Community

Isolated and in the middle of the bush, Masasi is a community located far from the main road. Although Masasi is located close to a diamond mine, it is a place of desperation with few employment opportunities, which encourages small illegal mines. Early marriage abounds, as does a heavy presence of witchcraft and ancestral worship. A community known as a drought area, Masasi’s soil is infertile and struggles to produce the food that is desperately needed. Although through subsistence farming people try to grow millet, a drought-resistant crop, the nutrients this provides are insufficient. Each year the community faces an extreme season.

70 Children currently supported by 11 Care Workers

Basic Services Started in 2022

110 km from the MUTARE Local Office

Masasi was identified in 2021 by Hands at Work leaders in Zimbabwe as one of the most vulnerable communities. Many months previously, local leader Farai Gunhe had had a dream that George Snyman (co-founder of Hands at Work) was pointing to the left-hand side of a road in Zimbabwe. Not knowing what to make of that, Farai didn’t think about it again, until walking in Masasi with the local Hands at Work team in Mutare, who had heard about the community’s vulnerability by word of mouth. This was the community that George had been pointing to in Farai’s dream.

In 2022, when Farai and other leaders were re-visiting the community, they connected with key people such as the Council Leader and Village Chief, with whom they shared the vision and heart of Hands at Work. Farai shares, “What really struck me was when the community Councillor said, “there have been many organisations come to this community. They see and then go. They drilled a borehole, but none of them came to look after the orphaned and vulnerable children”. As Farai and the Hands at Work leaders met with different individuals, it was clear that God was revealing to them the right people in the community to serve. 

As the team was identifying the most vulnerable children to come to the Care Point, God was busy revealing His heart for the community. On one occasion, they met a child named Gift*, who was busy looking for mice to eat. Leading the team to the home where he stays with his auntie, they learned that his mother had died and his father had left the family and run away. Gift was one of the many vulnerable children that Farai and the team met. Hearing their stories, it became even more clear that this was the right place for them to be.

Two local women, Ivy and Irene, showed the team around the community and spoke on behalf of the children. Inviting their Primary Caregivers to be Care Workers, the team created the new CBO around these children. Eventually the Mutare team and the Zimbabwe leaders did a Foundations Training with the Care Workers and church leaders, sharing the vision of Hands at Work. This was followed by a Maranatha Workshop, where they shared about who Jesus is and who He can be in their lives.

Meet Shadreck

When Shadreck* was only two years of age, both of his parents passed away. Since then, his aunt Delight* has been raising him. To provide for her family, Delight does gardening which she then sells. Unfortunately, the area where they live is dry and receives little rainfall, making it difficult to harvest anything. Subsequently, she is unable to earn the money needed for food let alone school fees and clothing. In May 2022, when Care Worker Anna was visiting families in the community, she met Shadreck and his family. Since then, Anna has been walking closely with his family, with whom she has developed a good relationship with. Together with the Masasi CBO, they are able to help fill the gaps, supporting them with a hot, nutritious meal daily and support with basic health care and education, of which Shadreck is in grade 5. Although challenges remain at home, Shadreck is described by Anna as a well-mannered boy who listens to his elders.

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

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