One Heart Africa

One Heart Africa started in 2010 with an idea to provide a solution for a need in Licilo, Mozambique. The small village located a few hours north of Maputo had only two primary schools and no preschool. Within the community, the unemployment rate was so high that many of the men had to travel over 4 hours to South Africa in hopes of finding work in mineral mines. Leaving Licilo for work led to the introduction of diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis upon their return. Not only did the community have to endure the introduction to these diseases and lack of employment, but, located in southern Africa, they also are constantly faced with water insecurity. Since OHA began working with the community a decade ago to provide support and solutions, we’ve opened the Sharing Hope Preschool, which provides 100 students annually with a new educational opportunity. This endeavor has led to other projects, such as installing boreholes (water wells), which has enabled 850 individuals to access clean water. In 2013, OHA was able to expand, starting Lumbombo Valley Farms in eSwatini (formerly known as Swaziland). With a 22-acre plot of land we prioritized sustainable farming techniques, such as aquaponics and permaculture. Not only does this farm provide nutrient-dense food for those in need in the nearby villages, but the farm also provides living-wage job opportunities. Throughout the past 10 years, One Heart Africa has learned a lot about how we can effectively support the community and turn short-term donations into long-term change. We have an operational team based in the United States and Europe that works closely with our team on the ground in Mozambique and Eswatini; by listening to and working with locals, we are able to better serve and empower them. We believe that solutions for long-term change lie in partnership; equipping, educating, and empowering others is the best way to help communities in need.