© 2007 AID AFRICA  UK Registered Charity Number 1116336

3 months later, Esther’s house was complete,  three villages had a restored water supply and best of all, Esther was part of the Garden Committee, working in the OHP Garden to feed those even worse off than herself! From abject poverty and dependency on others, to being a giver – that’s what the “Open Hand" is all about.

One of the most poignant pictures of our “Mercy” Projects is Esther’s story.  Esther, an 18 year old, with a son under 2, came to our office seeking help. Her husband had left her, and she and her son had been taken into hospital with acute malnutrition. On her return she found her little house destroyed by the floods and so when we paid an assessment visit, she was sitting in the ruins without food, shelter nor any form of income. Totally dependent on others, unable to help herself. We noticed that the bore-hole in her village wasn’t working so when we spoke to the Village Headman regarding permission to rebuild Esther’s home, we also asked if we could help with the Bore-Hole. And while we were at it, we introduced the concept of our Community Agri-Gardens......