What we do
We support children and youth to reach their full potential!
Why are we doing This?
Many children growing up in communities such as Walmer Airport Valley and Farmside in Gqeberha face difficult living conditions that affect their safety, health, and development.
High unemployment, poverty, and food insecurity place enormous pressure on families. While many children receive meals through school feeding schemes during the week, weekends are often the most difficult time, when these programmes are not available.
At the same time, there are very few safe and structured spaces where children can spend their time after school or on weekends. Without supervision and positive activities, young people can easily be exposed to harmful influences such as drugs, alcohol, crime, and violence.
These challenges do not only affect individual children — they impact the wellbeing and future of entire communities.
Hands of Compassion was founded to respond to these needs by providing practical support, safe environments, and opportunities for children to grow and develop in healthy ways.
Where are we working?
Hands of Compassion serves children and families in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), South Africa, with a focus on the communities of Walmer Airport Valley and Rocklands in the Eastern Cape.
These neighbourhoods are vibrant communities filled with strong families and resilient young people, yet many households face serious economic challenges and limited access to resources.
By working directly within these communities, we are able to build relationships with children, families, and local partners, ensuring that our programmes respond to real needs on the ground.
Through close collaboration with our partner church, Bethel Ministries, as well as volunteers and community members, we create spaces where children can experience support, stability, and encouragement.
Our programmes
At Hands of Compassion, we believe that supporting children requires caring for the whole person — body, mind, and spirit. Our programmes address both immediate needs, such as access to nutritious food and safe environments, and long-term development, helping children grow in confidence, character, and life skills.
ARISE – Life Skills development programme
ARISE is a structured after-school life skills programme designed for children aged 9–12 in the Walmer community. This stage of childhood is a critical period for personal development, where children begin shaping their identity, confidence, and decision-making abilities.
What makes ARISE unique is its intentional combination of sports, play-based learning, mentorship, and guided reflection. Through structured games and group activities, children naturally develop important life skills such as:
teamwork, communication, self-esteem, confidence, emotional awareness, discipline and self-control, responsible decision-making
Each session highlights a specific life skill and helps children reflect on how they can apply it in their daily lives — at home, at school, and within their community. By providing consistent guidance, positive role models, and meaningful relationships, ARISE strengthens the protective factors that help children build resilience, healthy identity, and hope for the future.
Soup Kitchen
& Child Engagement
One of the most urgent needs in the communities we serve is access to nutritious food. To address this, Hands of Compassion runs a community soup kitchen every weekend, providing warm meals for vulnerable children and teenagers in the Walmer Airport Valley and Rocklands communities.
Every Saturday and Sunday, around 200–250 children between the ages of 2 and 18 come together to receive a healthy meal in a safe and welcoming environment. Before the meals are served, children participate in games, sports, and group activities that encourage movement, teamwork, and social interaction. These moments create a joyful atmosphere where children can play, connect with others, and simply enjoy being children.
Beyond providing meals, the soup kitchen creates a safe space where children are supervised, encouraged, and supported by caring adults.
Faith, Values & Support
Our work is rooted in Christian values of love, compassion, and service. These values shape the way we care for children and engage with the community. Together with our partner church, Bethel Ministries, we seek to create spaces where children experience hope, belonging, and encouragement.
Through mentorship, prayer, and values-based guidance, we aim to support children not only practically, but also emotionally and spiritually. Our desire is that every child who participates in our programmes feels seen, valued, and encouraged to believe in a brighter future.
