Our story
The Hands of Love in Action Association (HLA ) is a non-profit, non-political, and non-denominational humanitarian organization established in the Democratic Republic of Congo in accordance with Law No. 004/2001 of 20 July 2001 governing non-profit organizations.
HLA was founded by Dorcas Mwinyi in 2020 and community members response to the growing social and economic challenges affecting communities across the Democratic Republic of Congo. Years of conflict, poverty, displacement, limited access to education and healthcare, and the vulnerability of children, women, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups have created an urgent need for sustainable community-based support and development initiatives.
Recognizing these challenges, a group of committed community leaders and volunteers came together with a shared vision of promoting human dignity, compassion, and social justice through practical action. The organization works to improve the well-being of vulnerable individuals and communities by providing humanitarian assistance, promoting education and skills development, supporting child protection, strengthening livelihoods, advancing health and well-being, and encouraging community resilience and self-reliance.
HLA serves all people without discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, gender, political affiliation, or social background. The organization believes that every person deserves the opportunity to live with dignity, access essential services, and participate fully in the development of their community.
The work of HLA ASBL is guided by the values of integrity, accountability, compassion, inclusiveness, respect for human rights, transparency, and sustainable development. Through collaboration with local communities, government institutions, civil society organizations, faith-based organizations, and international partners, HLA seeks to create lasting and measurable positive change.
The founders were inspired by the timeless principle expressed in Scripture:
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27 (NIV)
This verse serves as a source of inspiration for the founders’ commitment to compassion, service, and the protection of the most vulnerable members of society.
Background
Dorcas has always been passionate about serving vulnerable communities. Before coming to Australia in 2006, she volunteered at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi, where she worked closely with refugee orphans, vulnerable children, and young mothers. Through this work, she witnessed the daily struggles faced by displaced families, particularly women and children who had limited access to education, skills training, and social support.
Although she relocated to Australia, Dorcas never forgot the people she had served in Malawi and remained committed to supporting vulnerable communities across the region.
In 2010, during a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dorcas was deeply moved by the living conditions of many families affected by conflict. She saw an urgent need for a safe community center that would provide education, vocational training, counselling, and empowerment programs for those most in need. This visit strengthened her vision of establishing a center where vulnerable people—especially women, young mothers, orphans, and disadvantaged youth—could access opportunities to rebuild their lives.
Dorcas negotiated with the community if they negotiated with the community and the community provided land where the center could be built
At the same time, Dorcas began supporting a small group of young mothers, many of whom were survivors of sexual violence resulting from armed conflict. She worked with them to create a support group that promoted healing, mutual encouragement, and economic empowerment.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CENTRE
In 2020, Dorcas officially began the process of establishing the community centre where the community provided land . After extensive planning, consultation with community members, and preparing a detailed five-year development plan, the total project budget was estimated at **AUD $506,473**.
Despite limited financial resources, Dorcas personally contributed approximately eight percent of the total project cost. In addition, the local community demonstrated remarkable commitment by contributing an estimated 20% of the project’s value through voluntary labour, local materials, and community participation over the past five years.
Today, significant groundwork has already been completed through the dedication of Dorcas and the local community. However, additional financial support is needed to complete the center and make it fully operational.
Dorcas and her team are now seeking support from individuals, organizations, foundations, churches, and other well-wishers who share their vision. With the completion of this community center, vulnerable people will have access to education, vocational training, life skills, counselling, and other essential services that will empower them to become self-reliant and contribute positively to their communities.
Our Vision
To restore hope and transform lives by creating resilient, inclusive, and empowered communities where every individual has the opportunity to live with dignity, reach their full potential, and contribute to sustainable development
Our Mission
To empower vulnerable communities by promoting dignity, resilience, and sustainable development through inclusive humanitarian assistance, education, livelihoods, and community-led initiatives, with a focus on widows, orphans, vulnerable children, and disadvantaged families in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other underserved African communities
Motto
Giving Hope, Changing Lives
Our Goals
- Support Vulnerable Communities
Identify, protect, and provide comprehensive support to vulnerable individuals and families living in conditions of poverty, displacement, and social hardship. - Deliver Humanitarian Assistance
Provide timely and appropriate humanitarian assistance, including food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, and other essential services to improve the well-being of people in need. - Promote Education and Capacity Building
Increase access to quality education, literacy, and skills development for children, women, and vulnerable groups to promote lifelong learning and self-reliance. - Strengthen Livelihoods and Economic Empowerment
Empower families and communities through sustainable livelihood programmes, vocational training, entrepreneurship, and income-generating initiatives that reduce poverty and improve resilience. - Enhance Psychosocial Well-being and Social Inclusion
Promote the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of vulnerable individuals by providing counselling, community support, and inclusive programmes that restore hope and dignity. - Strengthen Community Participation and Local Leadership
Establish and support community-based structures and local committees to identify needs, monitor programmes, protect beneficiaries, and encourage community ownership of development initiatives. - Promote Sustainable Community Development
Partner with communities, government institutions, and development organizations to implement sustainable programmes that improve health, education, social cohesion, and overall quality of life. - Expand Humanitarian Impact
Extend HLA’s humanitarian and development programmes to underserved communities across the Democratic Republic of Congo and, where appropriate, other African countries experiencing similar humanitarian and development challenges.
H.L.A ASSOCIATION
For the support of orphans, widows, and vulnerable people has the motto: “Let us support the weak.”
Its symbol is represented by two hands of love supporting the most vulnerable.
