Get Involved with Hands at Work

  Congo-Democratic Republic of

Rural Areas

  Mozambique

Rural Areas

  Nigeria

Lagos

  South Africa

Mpumalanga

  Swaziland

Rural Areas

  Zambia

Rural Areas

Durations of Program: 1-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 7-12 months, 1-2 years and over 2 years
Typical Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks

Description: Volunteers serving with Hands at Work are able to encourage and support our local communities by their very presence. The skills and abilities that you bring with you can be used to empower and equip people. The metaphor we use to describe our volunteers working in community projects across southern Africa is scaffolding: temporary, yet essential aides in building a project and leaving it stronger than upon arrival. Volunteers arrive at our Service Centres for varying lengths of time and serve local workers in a variety of areas, always maintaining the goal of building the Centre's capacity to effectively care for the poor and vulnerable and supporting local ownership and sustainability.

Come participate in the work in one of three ways:

Short-term: International volunteers over age 18 come to learn and to participate in individualized ministries. Come with a willingness to encourage and support, whilst learning more about what Hands at Work is doing to reach the orphaned, the vulnerable and the sick in Africa. These time frames range from three weeks up to three months.

Mid to Long-term: There are opportunities for international volunteers who are Christian and over age 18 who are seeking opportunities to serve for six months and beyond. Come with a willingness to encourage and support, to use your skills and experience whilst learning more about what Hands at Work is doing to reach the orphaned, the vulnerable and the sick in Africa. Volunteers are prepared for service through an individualized orientation program, and then sent out among our community based organizations across Africa.

Teams: Gather your friends, co-workers, small group, or members of your church to participate with a Hands at Work project in Africa for a two or three-week experience. Hands at Work receives dozens of international teams yearly, and supports teams in preparatory training as well as project preparation, to ensure an impacting, transformative experience.

Highlights: Come with a total willingness to serve and full openness to learning. Bring all of yourself--your talents, passions, experiences, gifts--and participate in the breadth of community-based care, experience a new model of serving, and you will discover your place in God's amazing story of love and transformation in Africa.

Qualifications: We have many specific roles that need to be filled. While practical skills, such as carpentry or nursing, are always valuable and necessary skills, we challenge people to think beyond these obvious skills. Leadership, administrative, report writing, financial, IT, trainers, supporters and encouragers--there's a role for people from all different backgrounds. Believing God calls people to this ministry, we say, regardless of your skills, if God is stirring a passion in your heart to reach out among the poor in Africa, then come!

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Application Process Involves:

• Essay
• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Letters of Reference
• Phone Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Resume
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad

Hands at Work in Africa's Mission Statement: Our mission is to, through relationship with the local Church in Africa, challenge, encourage, develop and support the ministry of servanthood among those in need in their community through the replication of the Masoyi Community Intervention Model. We believe the biblical mandate to care for the dying, widows and orphans is not only for the Church in Africa, but also elsewhere, and Hands at Work will be a prophetic voice to the Churches outside Africa, challenging them to fulfill their mandate.

Year Founded: 2002

Hands at Work in Africa is a multi-denominational Christian based organization. We do not require our participants to be of the same faith. Our volunteers will not be involved in religious proselytizing.