Our Work

The New Life Centre (NLC) Primary School, located in the rural village of Sarberia, West Bengal, provides high-quality, affordable education to 400 children—many from families living at subsistence level. In a region where government schools are overcrowded and under-resourced, the NLC is a beacon of hope and a trusted community hub.

Founded 18 years ago by Alindra Naskar in his retirement, the school has grown steadily and achieved secondary school status in 2016. Today, it not only delivers a strong academic curriculum, but also offers vocational training to support employment prospects and further education.

The school’s impact is most visible in the lives of its students. Former pupils are now pursuing university degrees in subjects such as English, Physics, Nursing, Pharmacology, and Computer Science—many as the first in their families to access higher education. Their success stories continue to inspire the next generation of learners at the NLC.

With rising enrolment numbers, improved exam results, and a growing alumni community, the NLC stands as a powerful example of what dedicated local leadership and international partnership can achieve in even the most disadvantaged settings.

This project introduces the concept of environmental management to young schoolchildren to equip future young leaders with the necessary tools to take care for their immediate environment. They will receive training to create decorative items, like jewellery, from recycled materials, as well as other products from recycling such as compost. The ‘I inspire NTC’ project will directly impact three educational institutions: a kindergarten, an elementary school, and a secondary school. A club named ‘NTC (New Type of Citizen) for the Environment’ will be established at each site.

Hands Around the World supports Pamodzi Ndi Ana in running practical, impactful workshops for families and professionals. These sessions build local capacity to care for children with disabilities and connect communities with essential services.

For example, they ran a specialist workshop on supporting children with severe cerebral palsy, particularly around improving swallowing. An experienced Italian speech therapist volunteered her time to lead sessions for 11 physiotherapists from across Eastern Zambia. The two-day event combined theory and hands-on practice with local families, providing essential skills that will benefit children throughout the region.

The workshop also empowered parents with simple techniques to help their children eat safely and get the nutrition they need. Beyond training, it fostered valuable peer support networks among caregivers.

Another workshop focused on registering children with disabilities for government support. By bringing health professionals and families together at the PNA Centre over three days, more than 100 children received the assessments and paperwork needed to gain the necessary ID card to access social assistance. Help was available throughout for parents who needed support navigating the system.

Looking ahead, planned workshops include early physiotherapy interventions for clubfoot and art therapy training for special needs teachers in local schools.

Date: Ongoing

In response to the challenges of an unreliable power supply, HATW is co-funding the installation of a solar panel system to provide a consistent and sustainable source of electricity at Maluba Kasensa community centre.

Zambia relies heavily on hydroelectric power, which makes the country especially vulnerable to power shortages during periods of drought. The recent drought has caused widespread load shedding, with frequent and prolonged power cuts affecting schools, homes, businesses, and community spaces.

The new solar system ensures that the centre can continue running smoothly despite these challenges. It allows the centre to remain open after dark, creating a safe and welcoming space for evening study, reading, and group activities.

Beyond its immediate impact, the solar installation contributes to a more sustainable and climate-resilient future, demonstrating the power of clean, renewable energy to meet local needs. This project is a step toward greater energy independence, while directly improving daily life for the children and families who rely on the centre.

The project aims to address the critical issues of nutrition, education and food security, focusing on empowering women, children, households, and communities to preserve as much food as they can during times of plenty, and later make informed dietary choices ensuring that families have nutritious food throughout the year to improve overall health and well-being while reducing malnutrition, food wastage and food insecurity. Preservation of food, especially African indigenous vegetables, reduces waste from the harvest, makes food availabile throughout the dry season, and provides the family with a valuable income when they sell the preserved food during times of scarcity.

To help combat hunger and reduce poverty in Monze, Zambia, Hands Around the World is supporting a monthly food distribution programme at Kasensa—a community-led initiative reaching vulnerable children and families in nearby communities.

Thanks to your support, mealie meal and beans are provided to 106 beneficiaries each month. These essential food parcels ease financial pressure, improve nutrition, and help foster a stronger sense of care and belonging. The programme is coordinated by committed local volunteers who ensure that help reaches those who need it most.

Kasensa also benefits from a functional kitchen, built with HATW’s support, where children gather to enjoy shared meals. We’re continuing to invest in the centre by equipping the kitchen, supporting the installation of solar panels, and helping launch gardening activities to promote long-term food sustainability.

The Maluba Kasensa Project is changing lives—providing reliable access to food, enabling children to stay in school, and giving families hope for a brighter, more secure future.

Water pipes connected from the main water source to the school to provide access to clean safe water. Water is now available in the kitchens, school dormitory, bathrooms and toilets – improving the water, hygiene and sanitation conditions in the school for 115 students. An outside tap was also installed, which the school will use to water maize and other crops that are being grown on land nearby.

Hands Around the World is supporting St Lucy’s Primary and Secondary Schools in Meru, Kenya—serving 334 blind and visually impaired students—by helping to provide 30 refurbished laptops with screen reader software.

The headteachers, Sister Judith and Sister Jackline, are leading efforts to tackle the stigma around disability and show what visually impaired learners can achieve. The schools have also welcomed sighted students, creating an inclusive environment that’s breaking down barriers and raising academic standards for all.

Without laptops, students rely on limited braille machines and expensive paper. Access to digital materials is delayed, and it’s difficult for teachers to keep up with the national curriculum. The laptops allow students to take notes easily, access learning instantly, and develop essential ICT skills—making learning more accessible, efficient, and empowering. This project helps level the playing field and give these determined students the tools they need to thrive.

I am Walter Okullu, the Ugandan Country Coordinator for Field of Hope. I am a Lango by tribe and I hail from Dokolo District, Northern Uganda.

My role while working for Field of Hope involves implementing programmes and projects that enhance the capacity of farming communities and schools in the areas of agriculture, food security and environmental conservation.

Attending the Marshal Papworth course in 2025 will build my technical and practical competencies in the areas of agronomy, animal husbandry, soil science, environmental conservation, gender integration in agriculture and how to tackle issues related to policies and climate change – ultimately leading to food security, improved economic wellbeing and a safe and sustainable environment.  I will be able to learn from and share best practices with my peers, world-leading Professors and be able to replicate the lessons I’ve learnt back at home. I will also gain professional networking opportunities.

Thanks HATW for nominating and supporting me to gain this valuable experience to improve the communities I serve.

Sustainable food-producing garden project. The school serves 690 children, and the project aims to develop sustainable food production and improve water management at the school. Simultaneously, the new garden will act as a hub through which the children will learn about climate change adaptation and permaculture.

Hard-wearing and heavy-duty wheelchairs are essential for disabled children living in Africa due to the challenging terrain. Most families cannot afford such a luxury, so disabled children are often carried on the backs of their mothers until they are too heavy, or left at home, with no possible method of mobility. HATW funds PNA to provide wheelchairs to children and to maintain and adapt them as they grow older.  This comprehensive maintenance program includes regular follow up appointments. Wheelchairs would normally last until a child is 14 or 15 years old, but PNA have developed a clever modification to the wheelchairs that adds extra steel to the frame, which allows it to be used into adulthood.

Date: Ongoing

In Bugarama, Rwanda, many girls face ongoing challenges to their education due to a lack of access to menstrual hygiene products and safe, private facilities at school. To address this, Hands Around the World Jersey is working closely with nine partner schools to break down barriers to girls’ education and promote dignity, health, and opportunity.

The project supports the creation of Girls’ Hygiene Rooms in each school, providing a safe and private space for girls to manage their menstrual health. These facilities are complemented by the distribution of dignity bags containing essential items such as pads, underwear, soap, and washcloths. School matrons play a key role by offering counselling and support to help girls feel confident and cared for.

Already, the impact has been deeply felt. Schools with hygiene rooms and support services in place have seen reduced absenteeism, improved academic focus, and fewer teenage pregnancies. The first completed hygiene room has even been recognised by local education authorities as a model for future development. By providing both practical support and emotional care, this project is giving girls the tools they need to stay in school, thrive, and build a brighter future.

Jean Damascene, senior teacher at GS St Paul Muko, has come up with a scheme to tackle the root causes of children dropping out of school, namely household poverty, which means families can’t afford basic school materials and uniform.

The focus of the initiative will be on optimizing the use of the families’ available land through sustainable pig farming and backyard gardening. Through his project, selected families will receive pigs and training designed to maximize their land’s potential, teaching effective methods for crop cultivation and pig rearing. This approach will enable them to generate a sustainable income and improve their quality of life using their existing resources, with an emphasis on livestock management and organic gardening techniques.

Date: Ongoing

Due to the unprecedented drought of 2024, and the unsatisfactory harvests, Zambia is facing a major food crisis. The cost of corn, the main ingredient of the family diet, has increased and more and more people are forced to reduce the number of meals or portions. To try to counteract this phenomenon, in 2024 the association distributed 750 bags of flour to vulnerable families and children with disabilities when they attend the PNA centre for wheelchair follow up visits.

For some children with disabilities, school may be inaccessible even if they have a wheelchair. Sometimes the school is too far away, or it does not have accessible facilities. In these instances, HATW sponsors individual children and pays their fees to attend a private school. If necessary, we also provide funds for transport to the school, school supplies and medical expenses. The sponsorship programme helps the entire community, from parents to teachers and has a life-long impact on individuals and families.

Date: On-going

To support inclusive education for 115 children with disabilities, Hands Around the World provided essential classroom furniture to Irindiro Special School in Meru County, Kenya. This included 8 specially designed horseshoe tables, 40 pupil chairs, 2 teacher desks and chairs, and 2 writing boards. These additions have transformed the learning environment—improving comfort, boosting engagement, and making classrooms more accessible.

The horseshoe tables are especially valuable for pupils with hearing impairments, allowing a clear line of sight to the teacher and classmates to support effective learning and communication.

A locally made kitchen preparation table was also supplied, enabling the school to prepare and serve nutritious meals each day. Shared mealtimes have helped strengthen the school community and foster a more inclusive, supportive atmosphere.

Hands Around the World supports an innovative project at Tororo Girls School that combines rainwater harvesting, fruit and vegetable growing, and climate-smart farming. With over 2,000 students involved, the project promotes healthy diets, environmental awareness, and hands-on agricultural skills.

Students have planted mango, pawpaw, and avocado trees, along with a variety of vegetables. Each student is responsible for caring for their own tree—watering it diligently, especially during dry spells. They also learn about soil fertility, composting with organic manure, and sustainable farming techniques.

Rainwater harvested on-site is used to irrigate the crops during the dry season, building resilience and demonstrating practical responses to climate change. This initiative not only boosts nutrition and food security but also prepares a new generation to care for Uganda’s environment.

Thanks to the generous support of Motivation Africa, which contributed 64 customized wheelchairs, and HATW’s ongoing partnership, the DCC Kenya team has significantly improved the lives of individuals with mobility challenges. This project involved the collection, transportation, and assembly of the wheelchairs, followed by personalized assessments and adjustments to ensure each chair met the unique needs of its user. The DCC will continue to provide follow-up services for recipients, ensuring long-term support.

These high-quality, customized wheelchairs have not only enhanced mobility but also restored dignity and independence for the recipients. For many, it has meant the ability to return to school and regain a sense of purpose. Adults have found relief in their newfound freedom, no longer relying on family for mobility. This project has directly improved the lives of those who once faced immense challenges in their daily activities, enabling them to live more fulfilling and independent lives.

Date: Ongoing

Last year we were able to bring Father Emmanuel, headteacher at GS St Paul Muko, over to Jersey along with two other headteachers so that they could learn about schools here. Father Emmanuel was particularly impressed by the inclusion programme and was determined to do something for disabled children in his school when he returned.

Disabled children are usually hidden away, kept at home because there is no provision for them in large classrooms with 60 – 80 children. Father Emmanuel has now registered 84 children and found premises and teachers for them.

Date: Ongoing

To expand the care it can offer, Mwandi Mission Hospital identified a need for more specialist nurses. In response, Hands Around the World is helping fund one-year training courses for critical care and theatre nurses.

This support not only strengthens the hospital’s capacity but also transforms the lives of the nurses—many of whom were volunteering while waiting for paid roles. With specialist qualifications, they’re more likely to secure employment and continue serving their community at Mwandi.

Pictured here are Twambo and Paul studying critical care nursing at Livingstone College of Nursing.

Annet is an inspiring Agriculture teacher at Tororo Girls’ School, Uganda, where she teaches over 2,000 students. In 2023, she received a scholarship through Hands Around the World’s partnership with the Marshal Papworth Fund to study sustainable farming at Harper Adams University in the UK.

The 10-week course provided Annet with hands-on experience in climate-smart agriculture, organic practices, and strategies to enhance crop yields and food security. Upon returning to Uganda, Annet launched a school-based project focused on rainwater harvesting, fruit and vegetable production, and environmental education. Supported by Hands Around the World’s Environment Fund, her project aims to improve student nutrition, promote sustainable farming practices, and build climate resilience.

Annet’s journey highlights the impact of empowering passionate individuals to drive positive change, not just for students, but for entire communities. She is pictured here with her class, wearing a black t-shirt.

The New Life Centre’s Vocational Training Centre (VTC) offers life-changing opportunities for young people in Sarberia who have left school with few or no qualifications. Operating in the afternoons once the school day ends, the VTC currently supports around 30 students through practical, skills-based courses that open doors to employment and self-reliance.

Since its launch in 2007, the VTC has equipped over 230 young women with certified tailoring skills. Under the steady guidance of Chumpa, who has been with the NLC since it opened nearly 20 years ago, many graduates now support their families by sewing clothes for home use or local sale. Some, like one former trainee who now runs her own clothing business with her husband, have turned their skills into full-time livelihoods.

In recent years, the VTC has expanded to include a computer course for young people aged 16 and over. In a region where government secondary schools are severely overcrowded and under-resourced, this course provides vital digital literacy and IT training for those left behind by the mainstream system.

One of the course instructors is Baswajit, a former NLC student and Computer Science graduate, who now runs his own IT business next to his parents’ grocery shop. His return to the NLC as a teacher is a powerful example of the long-term impact of education—and the spirit of giving back it fosters.

The VTC continues to be a beacon of opportunity in a community where pathways out of poverty are few, but hope and resilience are strong.

The construction of a One Stop Centre at the hospital will support victims of Gender Based Violence (GBV), predominately women and girls. The dedicated space will enable the provision of a multitude of services, a space for a permanent police post, including necessary medical, para-legal, psychological and counselling support. The OSC will provide a discreet 24-hour integrated response for people experiencing GBV, ensuring prompt and comprehensive support to the victims. The centre will also raise awareness and educate the local community to promote a change in behaviours to address the drivers of GBV.

HATW have supported the development of a school garden by helping up-skill teachers through accessing training on sustainable agriculture. In collaboration with Marshal Papworth we support people from our partner project communities to study a 10-week programme at top agricultural university, Harper Adams, in the UK. The school garden provides food for the street children, who receive 2 meals a day, 7 days a week.

In Bugarama, many children face the daily struggles of street life—poverty, hunger, and lack of access to education. In response, Muko School, supported by Hands Around the World Jersey, launched a programme to welcome these children into school and provide the food and care they need to thrive.

What began with 150 children has grown to support over 400, each receiving two nutritious meals a day. With consistent access to food, counselling, and a safe learning environment, these young people are finding stability, confidence, and hope for the future.

Meals are cooked daily using locally available ingredients, and to support long-term sustainability, the school is developing its own food garden. Staff are also being trained in sustainable farming practices through the Marshal Papworth programme.

This initiative is transforming lives—nourishing minds and bodies, restoring dignity, and offering a brighter path forward for Rwanda’s most vulnerable children.

Madzi a Tuwa Secondary School, located in a remote part of Chipangali District, was established in 2014 and currently serves 235 students. However, the school faces significant challenges with overcrowded and inadequate facilities, which hinder its ability to provide the quality education necessary for academic success and to prevent students from dropping out.

This project aims to improve the learning environment for both current and future students by constructing a three-classroom block. This addition will significantly reduce overcrowding and eliminate the need for split teaching schedules. The new classrooms will be designed to withstand adverse climatic conditions and will enhance the learning experience through the provision of proper classroom furniture and essential teaching materials.

The project will also benefit from valuable community contributions of locally available materials. Upon completion, the new classrooms will directly support 235 students, while positively impacting nearly 10,000 people in the surrounding community by improving education and literacy levels.

Date: The classroom block should be completed by September 2025

Jean Damascene is the Dean of Discipline at G.S. Saint Paul Muko in Rwanda and serves as Project Coordinator for Hands Around the World Jersey’s projects in Rwanda. Jean completed a sustainable agriculture course at Harper Adams University through the Marshal Papworth Scholarship, with a goal of implementing sustainable farming practices that preserve soil fertility, conserve water, and reduce reliance on harmful chemical inputs.

Reflecting on his transformative experience, Jean shared:
“Growing up with a deep passion for agriculture, I recognised the need for expertise to better manage our school garden and enhance our feeding programme for street children. The training I received through the Marshal Papworth Scholarship has been invaluable. I am eager to apply these skills at G.S. Saint Paul Muko School and share the knowledge with other schools and communities, improving food security and fostering sustainable farming practices for future generations. I am deeply grateful to Hands Around the World and the Marshal Papworth Scholarship for their support in this transformative journey.”

Since returning to Rwanda, Jean has worked tirelessly to improve the school garden at Muko and to help others in the community by providing training and guidance on sustainable farming practices.

The aim of this project in Adjumani District, Uganda, is to combine income generation through beekeeping with production of reusable sanitary pads. The overall objective of the project is to economically empower girls such as teenage mothers and girls with disability, through making affordable, sustainable and culturally appropriate menstrual products. They will be trained in making period underwear, along with eco-friendly wash bags and drying bags. This practical training will be complemented by sexual and reproductive health education.