Thursday, January 28, 2016

Helping families write their own stories of hope

Stories of hope are written every day in communities where HOPE International Development Agency is working to help families lift themselves out of poverty.

Jeana Pangcato and her family live in the community of Sitio Kabalansian, in an impoverished region of the Philippines.

Here is Jeana’s story of hope...

“Before we had access to clean water, we fetched our drinking water from a muddy river at the foot of a steep cliff one kilometre from our home.

We would dig a small pit at the edge of the river to try to filter the water a bit, but it did not work. My children and I had diarrhoea all the time, terrible stomach problems, and painful skin rashes. All from the dirty water.

One time, years ago, contractors built a water system, but the water became contaminated because sewage was entering the system. Even still, there were constant line-ups for the water every day.”


Imagine being so desperate for water that you would willingly use water that makes you and your children sick.

Today, because of the generosity of HOPE International Development Agency donors, Jeana gathers clean water from a new system built by her community.

“Now I walk less than 100 meters from my house to a water tap that has clean water. And there are taps throughout my community - everyone has water. My family is healthy and we are not sick.”

Clean water is crucial for Jeana and her family, but so is being able to grow enough food.

HOPE International Development Agency is also helping families learn how to grow enough nutritious food to meet their needs and earn extra income. Seeds and tools, as well as training in more productive farming methods and homemade fertilizers, is being provided to help families reach their goal of become self-sufficient.

In communities who have received help, disease rates have decreased by more than 90 percent. School enrolment has risen dramatically. Malnutrition, a condition that affects children’s ability to learn and grow, is now a thing of the past.

Help families in the Philippines

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Have dinner with us and help change the world


Creating meaningful, lasting change takes more than one person. It takes a room full of people.

HOPE International Development Agency Film Premiere & Dinner events are an annual celebration of the progress made in helping families lift themselves out of poverty and the people who make it possible.

The highlight of each event is a short feature film, shot by professional filmmakers who are giving of their time and talent to bring you stories of hope from rural Ethiopia where HOPE is helping the poorest of the poor transform their lives.

HOPE's 2016 series of spring Film Premiere and Dinner events begin in Vancouver, on Saturday evening, April 23, 2016 at the stunning Vancouver Convention Centre (West Building), 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver, British Columbia. The evening gets started with a reception at 5:30pm, and dinner is served at 6:45pm.

More details on other event locations in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Nova Scotia will be released soon so please visit www.hope-international.com in the coming weeks.

The company of friends, a wonderful meal, silent auction, live music, and an inspiring film await you. We hope that you will join us this year and help transform lives in Ethiopia through your giving.

For more information about the April 23 event in Vancouver, and to reserve your tickets, please call us at 1-604-525-5481 and ask for Jet Takaoka (ext. 19) or John King (ext. 11).

Friday, January 1, 2016

Where hope begins


Hope begins with you; it always has and always will.

You transform lives through your concern and generosity. Your giving sparks a chain reaction.

When children, for example, are rescued from poverty, families can be transformed. When families are transformed, communities envision a better future and begin lifting themselves out of poverty. When communities become free from poverty, entire regions can be permanently transformed for the better.

In 2016, nearly one million people will be transformed as they gain access to clean water, education, health care, methods of sustainable agriculture, skills training, and new livelihoods – and it will all begin with you.

Thank you!