Telling the story that matters

The story of HOPE International Development Agency began when a few people here in Canada came together to find ways to help the world’s poorest families lift themselves out of poverty.

The idea was simple. Rather than just giving people what they needed to survive, why not also provide the knowledge, tools, training, and support needed to create their own solutions to poverty.

Our story, however, is not ours at all. It belongs to the poorest of the poor.

The poorest of the poor are the authors of our story, and a new chapter is written every time a person or family becomes free from the soul-crushing poverty that has held them captive for generations. In addition to the poorest of the poor, compassionate people here at home are also the authors our story.

The generosity and faithfulness of people here at home has enabled HOPE International Development Agency to help 20 million of the world’s poorest people transform their lives over the past 40 years.

The support for the poorest of the poor provided by friends of HOPE is best expressed by the outcome of their giving in 2014 – more than 820,000 people finding their way out of poverty!

Learn more by viewing our most recent annual report.

Approaching monsoon season threatens to worsen the situation for survivors of the double disaster in Nepal

It has been a race against time since the first massive earthquake struck Nepal on April 25, killing more than 8,000 people, injuring 17,000, and leaving 600,000 displaced from their homes. The pace quickened even further in the aftermath of a second earthquake that struck the country on May 12.

Now, the monsoon season is just a week away, and it's arrival will make life even more challenging for survivors.

HOPE International Development Agency is working to help survivors recover as quickly as possible.

The need in Nepal, one of the poorest nations in the world, is staggering.

Estimates put the damage at $10 billion dollars – nearly half of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Rebuilding roads, bridges, and homes damaged or destroyed by the two earthquakes could cost up to $5 billion dollars.

Help is the best remedy for broken hearts and lives

The need for hope amidst all of the devastation - especially when you consider that 600,000 people have been displaced from their homes and thousands have been killed or injured - is equally staggering.

The emotional toll that accompanies this level of destruction can only be remedied by providing as much help as quickly as we can.

Keeping pace with the need is challenging as survivors remain in a race against time to recover and rebuild their lives.

The Government of Canada, in an effort to increase the impact donors can have in the aftermath of this double disaster, is continuing to match all eligible donations, dollar-for-dollar, but this opportunity will ends on Monday, May 25, 2015.

DONATE ONLINE TODAY

Donate by phone at (toll-free) 1-866-525-HOPE(4673).

(Learn more about the Government of Canada's donation match).

A SECOND MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE STRIKES NEPAL - survivors are struggling!

A second massive earthquake struck Nepal this week and survivors, already reeling from the first killer earthquake just weeks ago, are fearful and hurting.

More donations are urgently needed to help survivors of the two massive earthquakes.

Work continues in an effort to save lives in the aftermath of the first 7.8 magnitude earthquake that devastated the nation and a second one that struck this week. Sadly, the death toll has climbed to 8,000 people. More than 17,000 are injured, and 600,000 people have been displaced from their homes.

A donation of $50, $75, $100 or even more if you are able, given the growing need in the aftermath of the most recent earthquake this week, will ensure that devastated families can begin rebuilding their lives as soon as possible. The Government of Canada, recognizing the enormous need, is matching all eligible donations dollar-for-dollar up until May 25, 2015 (Learn more about the Government of Canada's donation match.).

Please give what you can so we can help as many survivors as possible in the aftermath of these two terrible tragedies.

DONATE ONLINE TODAY

Donate by phone at (toll-free) 1-866-525-HOPE(4673).

In San Jose de Ocoa, health care is as important as clean water

 Dr. Castillo, a colleague of Dr. Arias, with some of the donated medical supplies.

Decades have passed since HOPE International Development Agency began helping impoverished families in the mountainous region of San Jose de Ocoa in the Dominican Republic.

Much has been done over the years to improve the lives of thousands upon thousands of families through education, training, and infrastructure work such as rural roads, schools, community centers, latrines, clean water, and simple irrigation systems that increase food production.

Yet the benefits of all this work, including freedom from poverty, can depreciate rapidly if families become sick or injured and medical treatment is not available or unsafe.

Time away from the farm field or classroom, due to sickness or injury, can quickly turn a family’s situation of gradual improvement into one of desperation.

In essence, health care is as important as clean water, food, education, and income.

Helping families in San Jose de Ocoa stay healthy is crucial if they are to become, and remain, free from poverty. HOPE International Development Agency supports the health of families by providing medicines and medical supplies that enable doctors and health workers to diagnose and treat ailments in safe and sanitary manner.

Juana Arias, a doctor working at the region’s main hospital that serves hundreds of patients each day, is one of the medical professionals that is able to provide services safely and effectively because of the medicines and medical supplies received through HOPE International Development Agency.

Every day, Dr. Arias helps mothers deliver their babies safely, whether naturally or by caesarian section. In one day alone, Dr. Arias performed three cesarean operations, including one for Elisa, a teacher and proud mother of newborn Fredalisa. Without the drapes, gloves, needles, and other basic medical supplies provided by HOPE International Development Agency for the maternity ward, Dr. Arias would not be able to perform these procedures as safely, because the hospital does not always receive enough supplies from the government.

The government of the Dominican Republic is committed to providing health care in rural and remote areas. However, it is a struggle to keep the clinics and hospitals stocked with basic medicines and supplies. This means that good health care is not always available to families. If there are no examination gloves or other supplies and medicines, patients are often required to purchase these items and bring them to the clinic in order to receive treatment. Unfortunately, the patients most in need cannot always afford the supplies or medicines and their injury or illness goes untreated.

HOPE International Development Agency is continuing to partner with communities to help maintain and improve health. By supporting the health care system in a key way, other efforts, such as education, food production, and improving incomes will continue to flourish.