Africa School of Missions home based care for AIDS patients

George and Carolyn Snyman are graduates of Africa School of Missions (ASM), South Africa. After working with Mercy Ministry for two years, they returned to run ASM’s Home Based Care project for AIDS patients. In 2000, the project was voted “Best Practice” by UNICEF. A mandate was provided to duplicate the ministry, and Hands at Work was birthed.

Currently, several projects exist in South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Swaziland and Democratic Republic of Congo. Eighteen schools have been opened in Zambia alongside the home based care projects as well. Thousands afflicted with AIDS are being helped. The ministry hopes to take care of 100,000 within the next 10 years.

ASM has been very active in the local community for eight years and has started projects in six countries in southern Africa. Students participate as part of their practical ministries and internships. Practical ministries are a very important part of the ASM training program. Many students are involved in the school’s AIDS program where skills are learned in home based care, community development, bereavement counseling and psycho-socio support to orphans. Other practical ministries include running a mobile clinic in communities with no access to medical facilities, working in rehabilitation centers and ministering in local prisons.