Meet the Team 2025 - Pippa

 

Hi I’m Pippa, I’m 16 years old and this year will be my second trip to South Africa as part of the St. Andrews Team.

Visiting last summer had a big impact on me and so I was very excited at the opportunity to return again this year as part of our ongoing partnership with Mafambisa. I am looking forward to revisiting the people we met last year and also getting the opportunity to visit new places and people this time.

I have just finished my GCSE’s and am beginning to prepare for Sixth Form in September.

This year I am going to South Africa without my parents for the first time and I am excited to have this experience with a different group of people including members of the team for whom this will be their first time in South Africa.

I would like to thanks everyone who has helped with the fundraising, that allows me to go on this trip, it is greatly appreciated.

Meet the Team 2025 - Nick

 

Hi, I’m Nick and I am looking forward to being part of the team going out to Africa this year.

As a member of the Country Fayre team, I remember Chris Parker, sometime ago, suggesting ‘Hands at Work’ as a chosen charity for that year.  Since then,  we as a parish, have forged the partnership with them.

For me, to make contact with Mafambisa is something I had wished to do, but due to my father’s illness, I felt I was unable to be away, whilst he was alive.  Dad and I spoke about the opportunity and I travel to Africa knowing that he knew I intended to go at some point in the future.

Throughout my Christian life in St Andrew’s parish,  it has been to serve God, whether it be in the Church or through volunteering with Scouting and involvement with the Biggleswade Community.

The trip to Africa, for me, will be to see the work that Hands at Work do and for me to be able to offer my support to them at the Community point and beyond.

I am happy to join the St Andrew’s team and make a connection with the care workers and children that we pray for week by week,

Having raised monies to build the community building and a new toilet block, through Neptune Cub Pack, it will be great for me to see these building and to see the difference that it has made to their community.

Please pray for me and all the team as we travel to Africa to do God’s work.

Meet the Team 2025 - Noah

 Hi I am Noah, This year will be my first time going out to South Africa, although over the years I have been involved with many fundraiser events to support teams going out to South Africa.

I have also heard the amazing stories and experiences that teams have had, with both my parents and 3 other siblings having gone out with teams in the past. I am a student paramedic who is due to graduate in 2026. As part of my course I have had the privilege to help people at some of their worst moments in their lives and providing people of all ages with care and compassion.

I am very excited to see that amazing work which is going on in the communities we visit and hope to meet some of the people that I have heard so much about over the years. I have known the team mates for a long time with one of the team being a life long role model.

Meet the Team 2025 - Rachel

 

Hi, I am Rachel and this is my first time going to South Africa. I have been to fundraising events in the past for teams going to Africa. I have read and heard so many stories from others who have been so I am very excited to see what goes on in the communities and how it all works. I’ve heard so many positive things about what it’s like there in regard to faith and the connection to god and I am looking forward to see the communities ways of worshipping God.

I am just about to finish college where I studied health and social care at level 3 and I aim to be a British Sign Language Interpreter in the future.

Meet the Team 2025 - Adam

 Hello I’m Adam, I am heading out to South Africa again this year as part of the St Andrews Team, This will be my second time visiting Hands at Work in South Africa.

I am going for a slightly shorter trip than the rest of the team but having been before i will be able to really engage with the experience again and get myself in the right headspace.

I am really looking forward to hopefully revisiting Mafambisa as well as getting to experience new Care points, I also can’t wait to reintegrate within the community of The Hands Hub which i really engaged and connected with on my last visit, engaging with the care workers, Service centre team and Long term volunteers.

I am looking forward to revisiting South Africa and again strengthening my own connection with faith and also revisiting the communities and the incredible people once again.