The Republic of South Sudan, Africa’s youngest nation, faces considerable humanitarian challenges.
The terrible legacy of civil war and chronic underdevelopment weigh heavily on the ability of the new nation to provide basic services and respond to humanitarian needs. As a result, communities are vulnerable and struggle with insecurity, displacement, food shortages, outbreaks of disease, and seasonal floods.
Conflict has flared up again in the region, but despite the current situation, HOPE International Development Agency continues to work with families in the district of Ibba, helping them improve their lives.
In addition to helping families overcome food shortages by providing them with the knowledge and supplies needed to grow nutritious wheat and legumes, HOPE donors have also provided communities in Ibba with clean water, primary education for children, and sanitation and hygiene training that significantly reduce rates of disease among families.
Today, nearly 1,600 students are attending school in four primary schools in the area. Hygiene and sanitation training has helped 700 people learn how to reduce their risk of disease and improve their health, and more than 1,000 people have access to clean water.
The people of Ibba are doing whatever they can to improve their lives, despite the challenges, and so is HOPE as we walk with them on their journey out of poverty.
Friday, November 27, 2015
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Thoughtful gifts you can give this Christmas
HOPE International Development Agency's 2015 Gifts of HOPE Catalogue is full of Christmas gifts you can give to make the world a better place.
This year's catalogue features 12 thoughtful gifts that will change lives throughout the world.
In addition to helping orphans in Ethiopia, transforming young minds in the Philippines, supporting learning in South Sudan, and nurturing children in Haiti, you can help families become self-reliant, earn sustainable incomes, grow bountiful harvests, and gain the confidence needed to change their lives.
Each gift in this year's Gifts of HOPE Catalogue can change lives. Make this Christmas a special time for you and the poor by giving gifts that will not fade, wear out, or go out of fashion.
Give gifts to make a better world.
This year's catalogue features 12 thoughtful gifts that will change lives throughout the world.
In addition to helping orphans in Ethiopia, transforming young minds in the Philippines, supporting learning in South Sudan, and nurturing children in Haiti, you can help families become self-reliant, earn sustainable incomes, grow bountiful harvests, and gain the confidence needed to change their lives.
Each gift in this year's Gifts of HOPE Catalogue can change lives. Make this Christmas a special time for you and the poor by giving gifts that will not fade, wear out, or go out of fashion.
Give gifts to make a better world.
Thursday, November 12, 2015
A promise to Chan - a new life!
In our latest film, “A Promise to Chan”, a young donor named Alison witnesses the amazing story of transformation that came once Chan's family had clean water readily available.
When the HOPE cameras first met Chan, she and her children were living in desperate poverty in a tiny shack on a dusty piece of land. Chan and her children had no access to clean water, education, or health care.
Watch "A Promise to Chan" and witness her journey out of poverty.
Donate to help provide clean water, education, food security, and income development for families in Cambodia.
When the HOPE cameras first met Chan, she and her children were living in desperate poverty in a tiny shack on a dusty piece of land. Chan and her children had no access to clean water, education, or health care.
Watch "A Promise to Chan" and witness her journey out of poverty.
Donate to help provide clean water, education, food security, and income development for families in Cambodia.
Friday, November 6, 2015
Living in a tent for one year is part of Masresha’s commitment to the people of Wabe Shore
Helping people requires commitment. This is especially true among the people of Wabe Shore who live in a rugged, remote region of southern Ethiopia.
Masresha, a young Ethiopian man supporting the work of HOPE International Development Agency by helping communities learn how to help themselves, exemplifies the type of commitment it takes to help people lift themselves out of poverty.
For nearly nine months, Masresha has spent his days among the people of Wabe Shore and his nights sleeping in a tiny tent pitched on the edge of a small forest. By the time Maresha finishes his work, he’ll have been in Wabe Shore for one year.
Masresha, a HOPE community mobilizer in southern Ethiopia, is helping the families of Wabe Shore by supporting the ongoing development of Self Help Groups and Water Committees that will ensure the work that HOPE donors have funded remains self-sustaining for years to come.
When asked about living in a tent in such a remote area, Masresha replied, “What matters is helping the community and knowing that they have a bright future ahead of them. The tent doesn’t matter.”
One of Masresha’s favorite ways to explain why he feels the work is worthwhile and brings him so much satisfaction is to tell the story of Wachay, a local man who has benefited from the work of Masresha and HOPE.
“Wachay used to travel long distances across treacherous terrain to access water – it was a real burden for him,” says Masresha. “Today, because of our work, Wachay has clean water readily available right in his community, very close to his home. In addition to having clean water to drink, he also uses the water to irrigate his crop fields and grow more food. For me, it has been very rewarding to be a part of this amazing change”
Masresha personifies commitment. His love of people and desire to help them become free from poverty is a key reason the work of HOPE in southern Ethiopia is transforming lives for the better, day after day, and year after year.
Masresha, a young Ethiopian man supporting the work of HOPE International Development Agency by helping communities learn how to help themselves, exemplifies the type of commitment it takes to help people lift themselves out of poverty.
For nearly nine months, Masresha has spent his days among the people of Wabe Shore and his nights sleeping in a tiny tent pitched on the edge of a small forest. By the time Maresha finishes his work, he’ll have been in Wabe Shore for one year.
Masresha, a HOPE community mobilizer in southern Ethiopia, is helping the families of Wabe Shore by supporting the ongoing development of Self Help Groups and Water Committees that will ensure the work that HOPE donors have funded remains self-sustaining for years to come.
When asked about living in a tent in such a remote area, Masresha replied, “What matters is helping the community and knowing that they have a bright future ahead of them. The tent doesn’t matter.”
One of Masresha’s favorite ways to explain why he feels the work is worthwhile and brings him so much satisfaction is to tell the story of Wachay, a local man who has benefited from the work of Masresha and HOPE.
“Wachay used to travel long distances across treacherous terrain to access water – it was a real burden for him,” says Masresha. “Today, because of our work, Wachay has clean water readily available right in his community, very close to his home. In addition to having clean water to drink, he also uses the water to irrigate his crop fields and grow more food. For me, it has been very rewarding to be a part of this amazing change”
Masresha personifies commitment. His love of people and desire to help them become free from poverty is a key reason the work of HOPE in southern Ethiopia is transforming lives for the better, day after day, and year after year.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Gifts to make a better world
HOPE International Development Agency's 2015 Gifts of HOPE Catalogue is full of Christmas gifts you can give to make the world a better place.
You can help orphans in Ethiopia, transform young minds in the Philippines, support learning and good health in South Sudan, nurture children in Haiti and much more, including helping families become self-reliant and giving communities access to clean water.
Each gift in this year's Gifts of HOPE Catalogue can change lives. Make this Christmas a special time for you and the poor by giving gifts that will not fade, wear out, or go out of fashion.
Give gifts to make a better world.
You can help orphans in Ethiopia, transform young minds in the Philippines, support learning and good health in South Sudan, nurture children in Haiti and much more, including helping families become self-reliant and giving communities access to clean water.
Each gift in this year's Gifts of HOPE Catalogue can change lives. Make this Christmas a special time for you and the poor by giving gifts that will not fade, wear out, or go out of fashion.
Give gifts to make a better world.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
You're invited to our October & November Film Premiere & Dinner events
If you live in Edmonton, Victoria, Abbotsford, Kelowna, or Terrace, there's still time to get your tickets for a HOPE International Development Agency 2015 Film Premiere & Dinner event in your city.
A wonderful meal, live music, silent and live auctions, and the company of friends is what you can look forward to at our 40th Year Celebration HOPE International Development Agency Film Premiere & Dinner events.
The highlight of the evening is our latest film, “A Promise to Chan”, shot on location in rural Cambodia earlier this year. The deeply moving and highly uplifting film chronicles the journey Chan and her family took out of abject poverty and into self-reliance.
Please join us for what is sure to be a memorable evening for you and for the families in Cambodia you will transform though your giving.
RESERVE YOUR TICKETS TODAY
To reserve your tickets, or for more information, please visit www.hope-international.com today or call, toll-free 1 (866) 525-4673.
Edmonton – Saturday, October 24
6:00pm Reception & 7:00pm Dinner
The Shaw Conference Centre
9797 Jasper Avenue Northwest, Edmonton, Alberta
Victoria – Friday, October 30
6:30pm Reception & 7:00pm Dinner
The Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Hotel Resort & Spa
100 Harbour Road, Victoria, British Columbia
Abbotsford – Tuesday, November 3, 2015
6:30pm Reception & 7:00pm Dinner
Ramada Plaza Abbotsford Hotel & Conference Centre
36035 N Parallel Rd, Abbotsford, British Columbia
Kelowna – Thursday, November 5, 2015
6:30pm Reception & 7:00pm Dinner
Coast Capri Hotel
1171 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna, British Columbia
Terrace – Saturday, November 7, 2015
6:30pm Reception & 7:00pm Dinner
Northwest Community College
(House of Birch)
5331 McConnell Avenue, Terrace, British Columbia
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Getting from surviving to thriving
Life in rural Bangladesh is challenging on a good day. On a bad day, it’s hard to bear.
It was definitely a bad day when Parul’s husband left her and their two sons. The emotional trauma was difficult, but the physical challenge of surviving would prove to be equally difficult.
Work is hard to find in Barisal, an impoverished rural area of Bangladesh where Parul and her sons live, and Parul struggled to earn enough income to provide for her family. She would need help if she and her sons were going to do more than just survive.
Fortunately, Parul found the help she needed in a savings group supported by friends of HOPE International Development Agency. She joined the group and began attending meetings, along with 19 other women. At each meeting, Parul would learn more about basic money management, and she began contributing a small amount of money toward a group fund that would help women like her start small businesses.
Having learned what she needed to learn in order to start a small business that would support her family, Parul borrowed $85 from the group fund and used the money to start a small grocery business using the produce she was growing. Parul also attended additional training sessions focused on helping her maximize production and increase profit.
Parul paid back her first loan and then took a second loan to further increase the production of produce for her grocery store. Her second investment in growing her small business paid off. Today, Parul’s monthly income has doubled. She now earns roughly $170 a month.
“I feel blessed to be part of the savings group,” says Parul. “The loans and my business have made it possible for me and my sons to live without fear and have given us hope for the future!”
Parul (shown below with some of her produce) plans to use her new income to send her two boys to school. She also intends to purchase a cow and start selling milk at her grocery store.
It was definitely a bad day when Parul’s husband left her and their two sons. The emotional trauma was difficult, but the physical challenge of surviving would prove to be equally difficult.
Work is hard to find in Barisal, an impoverished rural area of Bangladesh where Parul and her sons live, and Parul struggled to earn enough income to provide for her family. She would need help if she and her sons were going to do more than just survive.
Fortunately, Parul found the help she needed in a savings group supported by friends of HOPE International Development Agency. She joined the group and began attending meetings, along with 19 other women. At each meeting, Parul would learn more about basic money management, and she began contributing a small amount of money toward a group fund that would help women like her start small businesses.
Having learned what she needed to learn in order to start a small business that would support her family, Parul borrowed $85 from the group fund and used the money to start a small grocery business using the produce she was growing. Parul also attended additional training sessions focused on helping her maximize production and increase profit.
Parul paid back her first loan and then took a second loan to further increase the production of produce for her grocery store. Her second investment in growing her small business paid off. Today, Parul’s monthly income has doubled. She now earns roughly $170 a month.
“I feel blessed to be part of the savings group,” says Parul. “The loans and my business have made it possible for me and my sons to live without fear and have given us hope for the future!”
Parul (shown below with some of her produce) plans to use her new income to send her two boys to school. She also intends to purchase a cow and start selling milk at her grocery store.
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
An AIDS Victim
As written by the author while in Ethiopia.
In a shack we saw him lying
As others before, surely dying.
For him any tears or crying?
Disease had been gripping,
Certain death now was nipping.
Life from him was slipping.
The look with hollow eye
On the mat where he lie,
Waiting for his hour to die.
We judge him the guilty one,
He had his day or two of fun.
And now his course has run.
But what about his wife?
Gone now, the precious life,
To think, he caused the strife.
Death, snatch him from the bed.
Surely as the one he’d wed.
For like her, he’ll soon be dead.
Question asks: “what to do?”
Answer responds: “who, and whom?”
Echo replies: “who but you?”
Postscript
An AIDS Victim was authored by a long-time friend of HOPE and the poor, after a journey into the slums of Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia.
"We saw the dying man. Then we visited the young dying mother, baby, and grandmother," recalls the author. "It was during the second visit that the doctor from England became so emotional and distraught that she left the house. I soon followed and met with her by the car as she wept." Later that day, the author penned the poem.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
The need for kindness in South Sudan
Life has been horribly difficult for children in South Sudan. They desperately need the kindness friends of HOPE International Development Agency can give.
Many of these children, like Nyanath, have lived through the trauma of armed conflict.
Some, like Deng, have lost loved ones or friends - something no child should have to go through.
All of these children have experienced the suffering that drinking dirty water can cause.
None of these children has had the opportunity to sit in a classroom and learn the skills that will free them from poverty.
It does not cost much for you to become a child’s friend. However, as you can see, it costs a child far more if they do not have a friend.
Providing one child with clean water, education, and hygiene training costs $150.
You can become a friend to a child in desperate need by giving what you can to help provide clean water, education, and hygiene training today.
Help a child in South Sudan.
Many of these children, like Nyanath, have lived through the trauma of armed conflict.
Some, like Deng, have lost loved ones or friends - something no child should have to go through.
All of these children have experienced the suffering that drinking dirty water can cause.
None of these children has had the opportunity to sit in a classroom and learn the skills that will free them from poverty.
It does not cost much for you to become a child’s friend. However, as you can see, it costs a child far more if they do not have a friend.
Providing one child with clean water, education, and hygiene training costs $150.
You can become a friend to a child in desperate need by giving what you can to help provide clean water, education, and hygiene training today.
Help a child in South Sudan.
Thursday, September 24, 2015
HOPE's October Film Premiere & Dinner events are just weeks away.
If you live in Calgary, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Edmonton, or Victoria, there's still time to get your tickets for these dates
Calgary – October 17
The Sheraton Eau Claire
Fort McMurray - October 19
The Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre
Grand Prairie - October 21
The Pomeroy Hotel & Conference Centre
Edmonton – October 24
The Shaw Conference Centre
Victoria – October 30
The Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Hotel Resort & Spa
A wonderful meal, live music, silent and live auctions, and the company of friends is what you can look forward to at our 40th Year Celebration HOPE International Development Agency Film Premiere & Dinner events.
The highlight of the evening is our latest film, “A Promise to Chan”, shot on location in rural Cambodia earlier this year. The deeply moving and highly uplifting film chronicles the journey Chan and her family took out of abject poverty and into self-reliance.
Please join us for what is sure to be a memorable evening for you and for the families in Cambodia you will transform though your giving.
To reserve your tickets, or for more information, please visit www.hope-international.com today or call, toll-free 1 (866) 525-4673.
Friday, September 18, 2015
Overcoming poverty by working together to create local solutions
Even though 80 percent of families living in Layyah, Pakistan are completely reliant on livestock for their survival, no one could figure out how to reopen the only veterinary clinic in the region.
At first glance, the problem seemed to be the lack of veterinary services in the region, which is home to nearly 15,000 livestock.
A closer look, however, revealed that the real problem was that families were unsure of how to work together to get the clinic reopened.
HOPE International Development Agency assisted families in Layyah by helping them set up an action group focused on reopening the clinic. During the monthly meetings and training sessions held by the group, women and men in Layyah learned to work together to achieve common goals and build strategies for securing support from the local government.
The group raised awareness of the need for a veterinary clinic by holding press conferences and hosting other public events. After several events, the local government became aware of the need for a veterinary clinic and attended one of the press conferences.
Within a week of attending the conference, government officials not only appointed a veterinarian for the clinic, but also provided medicines for the clinic’s dispensary.
Today, the clinic is fully functional and providing services to Layyah and an additional 23 villages in the surrounding area.
With a bit of help and encouragement, families worked together to create a local solution that resulted in the veterinary clinic being reopened – a very important step in their journey out of poverty!
At first glance, the problem seemed to be the lack of veterinary services in the region, which is home to nearly 15,000 livestock.
A closer look, however, revealed that the real problem was that families were unsure of how to work together to get the clinic reopened.
HOPE International Development Agency assisted families in Layyah by helping them set up an action group focused on reopening the clinic. During the monthly meetings and training sessions held by the group, women and men in Layyah learned to work together to achieve common goals and build strategies for securing support from the local government.
The group raised awareness of the need for a veterinary clinic by holding press conferences and hosting other public events. After several events, the local government became aware of the need for a veterinary clinic and attended one of the press conferences.
Within a week of attending the conference, government officials not only appointed a veterinarian for the clinic, but also provided medicines for the clinic’s dispensary.
Today, the clinic is fully functional and providing services to Layyah and an additional 23 villages in the surrounding area.
With a bit of help and encouragement, families worked together to create a local solution that resulted in the veterinary clinic being reopened – a very important step in their journey out of poverty!
Thursday, September 10, 2015
It takes more than courage
Courage is no substitute for a life-changing gift.
Halgage, a young mother of three children, knows this to be painfully true. No amount of courage and hard work on her part brought her one step closer to becoming free from poverty.
“Our life was miserable. We did not have enough food, clothing, or income,” says Halgage, recalling the immense burden she felt in not being self-reliant.
Halgage’s husband labored in the fields of others and despite his best effort, he could not earn enough income to support his family. Halgage spent her days trekking through the countryside, fetching whatever water she could find, most of which made her and her family very sick.
Then something wonderful happened. Friends of HOPE International Development Agency gave so that we could collaborate with Halgage’s community to install a water system to provide a plentiful supply of clean water to the entire community.
The day the water system was completed and operational was the day Halgage said a joyful goodbye to the 5-hour treks she had endured for decades.
Halgage knew what she would do with her newfound hours each day. She would concentrate fully on making her family’s dream of being free from poverty become a reality.
But as Halgage quickly found out, it would not be that simple. A big obstacle stood in the way of achieving her family’s dream of being free from poverty.
“We had the potential to work and improve our living conditions, but we had nowhere to borrow the money we needed to get started,” says Halgage, recalling the hopelessness she felt.
The solution to overcoming this obstacle became apparent when Halgage joined a self-help group, a small group of 20 like-minded women in her village who come together to learn new skills, support each other in starting small businesses, and solve challenges faced by their community.
Halgage developed a plan, borrowed a small amount of money, and got to work making her family’s dream of self-reliance a reality.
With her borrowed money, Halgage rented a small plot of land and purchased tools and seeds to grow vegetables, which she continues to sell, for a good profit, in small markets in the neighboring towns of Gezeso, Laka, and Belta today.
Every basket of vegetables sold increased Halgage’s confidence and her family’s quality of life. With her ever-improving confidence, Halgage expanded her small business to include buying cereal crops in her village and selling them, at a profit, at the same local markets where she sold her harvest of homegrown vegetables. Halgage and her family, with the help of her friends and fellow self-help group members, also built a new home of bamboo and thatch, using some of the proceeds from her business.
All of this incredible change was made possible because a friend of HOPE International Development Agency gave a gift that made a huge difference for Halgage and her family.
“Now I am self-employed and can help my family and send my children to school,” says Halgage, her face beaming with pride. “Our income is dramatically increased from before and we now have enough food, clothing, medication, and things like education materials.”
“I never dreamed I’d have such a wonderful life, but it happened,” says Halgage, recalling how desperately poor she and her family used to be.
It takes more than courage for people like Halgage to become free from poverty. It takes your gift.
Help a family like Halgage’s become free from poverty today.
Halgage, a young mother of three children, knows this to be painfully true. No amount of courage and hard work on her part brought her one step closer to becoming free from poverty.
“Our life was miserable. We did not have enough food, clothing, or income,” says Halgage, recalling the immense burden she felt in not being self-reliant.
Halgage’s husband labored in the fields of others and despite his best effort, he could not earn enough income to support his family. Halgage spent her days trekking through the countryside, fetching whatever water she could find, most of which made her and her family very sick.
Then something wonderful happened. Friends of HOPE International Development Agency gave so that we could collaborate with Halgage’s community to install a water system to provide a plentiful supply of clean water to the entire community.
The day the water system was completed and operational was the day Halgage said a joyful goodbye to the 5-hour treks she had endured for decades.
Halgage knew what she would do with her newfound hours each day. She would concentrate fully on making her family’s dream of being free from poverty become a reality.
But as Halgage quickly found out, it would not be that simple. A big obstacle stood in the way of achieving her family’s dream of being free from poverty.
“We had the potential to work and improve our living conditions, but we had nowhere to borrow the money we needed to get started,” says Halgage, recalling the hopelessness she felt.
The solution to overcoming this obstacle became apparent when Halgage joined a self-help group, a small group of 20 like-minded women in her village who come together to learn new skills, support each other in starting small businesses, and solve challenges faced by their community.
Halgage developed a plan, borrowed a small amount of money, and got to work making her family’s dream of self-reliance a reality.
With her borrowed money, Halgage rented a small plot of land and purchased tools and seeds to grow vegetables, which she continues to sell, for a good profit, in small markets in the neighboring towns of Gezeso, Laka, and Belta today.
Every basket of vegetables sold increased Halgage’s confidence and her family’s quality of life. With her ever-improving confidence, Halgage expanded her small business to include buying cereal crops in her village and selling them, at a profit, at the same local markets where she sold her harvest of homegrown vegetables. Halgage and her family, with the help of her friends and fellow self-help group members, also built a new home of bamboo and thatch, using some of the proceeds from her business.
All of this incredible change was made possible because a friend of HOPE International Development Agency gave a gift that made a huge difference for Halgage and her family.
“Now I am self-employed and can help my family and send my children to school,” says Halgage, her face beaming with pride. “Our income is dramatically increased from before and we now have enough food, clothing, medication, and things like education materials.”
“I never dreamed I’d have such a wonderful life, but it happened,” says Halgage, recalling how desperately poor she and her family used to be.
It takes more than courage for people like Halgage to become free from poverty. It takes your gift.
Help a family like Halgage’s become free from poverty today.
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