This is Sarah (her real name is not provided for privacy reasons)

I met Sarah during a recent trip to Zambia with Hands at Work. Sarah lives in the Mutoyo community, a rural community east of Chisamba where families face significant challenges, including food insecurity, limited access to services, and few employment opportunities.

For Sarah, the daily reality is that the most reliable meal she receives is often the one provided at the Hands at Work Care Point. Without the support of the Care Point, children like Sarah face uncertain access to food, education and the opportunities that many of us take for granted.

As I spent time with Sarah and the other children in Mutoyo, I was struck by their joy, resilience and hope despite incredibly difficult circumstances. Yet I couldn’t help but think about how different their futures could be if they had consistent access to nutrition, education and the support of a caring community.

Sarah’s story is just one of many.

Mutoyo is a community where there is no formal employment and families rely heavily on farming and occasional jobs to survive. Food instability is a significant issue, there is no local clinic, and the community school is more than two kilometres away. Major strongholds in Mutoyo include prostitution, as many women see no other option for survival and to provide for their families, and the belief in witchraft.

In 2025, Hands at Work began supporting 50 children and their families in Mutoyo, ensuring they receive food, education and healthcare support, while also caring for their emotional and spiritual wellbeing. The Care Point is currently operates from the home of a careworker, Florence, a remarkable woman who was already sharing her own food with vulnerable children before Hands at Work arrived.

The dream for Mutoyo is to establish a permanent Care Point on donated land. This facility would provide a permanent, well ventilated kitchen, a room for children under five, secure storage and a flexible community space that can serve children, caregivers and families throughout the year.

Since returning home, God has continued to work on my heart. The children of Mutoyo are no longer statistics on a page; they are faces, names and stories that I carry with me.

That is why, in the lead up to the Sydney Marathon, I am raising funds to support the Mutoyo community and help build a future where children like Sarah can flourish.

Every dollar raised will go directly towards supporting the children and families of Mutoyo. Thank you for partnering with me to make a difference.