Seventeen Serious Faces. Notebooks in Hand. Questions Ready.

A team of 7 journeyed to Liberia this month to visit Hope International and our Liberian friends and partners. Sandi Bammer, one of these travelers, recently joined the stateside Board of Directors and has spent the last few weeks immersing herself in all things Hope. She had the opportunity to spend time with Hope International's press club. One of the many school activities your generosity supports. 

Sandi shared about her time spent with these bright and determined students.

The Hope International School Press Club is an impressive group of junior and senior students led by advisor Jeremaine Mitchell and Press Club president Princess Flomo. Princess is one of thirteen young women in the Press Club, and she is a confident, capable, and strong leader.
 
While some members hope to pursue careers in news and journalism, many are there to strengthen their public speaking skills in preparation for futures in law and other public-facing professions. Every one of them is already helping to shape the future of Liberia.

Sitting across from these bright and articulate young people was such an honor. They arrived with thoughtful curiosity and a list of serious questions, ready to listen closely and report carefully.

We, the Hope International board members, answered panel-style while they took diligent notes, preparing to deliver the news to the student body on Monday morning. The Press Club shares school news twice each week on Monday and Thursday during morning assembly before classes begin—an important responsibility they carry with confidence and pride.
 
They asked what we thought of the school, the curriculum, the quality of the teaching staff, and our commitment to continue the work of sponsorship. They asked for words of inspiration, and we all agreed that it was they who inspired us.

So many wonderful things are happening here at Hope International School. Sitting with these students—witnessing their hard work, commitment, and curiosity—was truly a gift. Liberia is in good hands with these young leaders, and I know that my commitment to the school’s continued success and life-changing impact has only grown over the last week.
 
The future of Liberia is asking smart questions, speaking with confidence, and leading with hope—and we are proud to stand beside them.

Thank you, Sandi, for sharing about your time spent with these bright lights. And thank you, our Hope community, for walking alongside the students of Hope as they pursue their dreams.

Hope is Always a Good Answer

Before we left to journey to Liberia, we challenged Hope International School’s quiz team to a competition during one of their practices. As in most things in Liberia, they took this idea and made it huge.

Last night, we were given questions on Liberian and American history and the history of Hope International School. We begged Smith Samah (Hope International alumni student and former quiz captain) to be our coach. 

A couple of our quiz questions...

Question: Give the full date that Liberia raised her own flag. 
Answer: August 24, 1847.
 
Question: What was the main objective of the New Deal?
Answer: To provide relief, recovery and reform to those affected by the Great Depression.

We are all old and have waning memories and have not made flashcards in decades. But Bettina, our team captain and Hope Project board member, got us up early before daylight to study. We were told to meet on the third floor overlooking the school campus at 12:00 noon. We were nervous and overwhelmed.

The whole school turned up to support their team and at the end of the tournament we were defeated by the score of 135 to 140.
 
What an amazing day we all had together as a team and as a community. There was competition and laughter and technical difficulties (solved by a Power of Hope student of course).
 
Question: In what community will you find the most generous people who have partnered to provide educational opportunities for the students of Liberia?
Answer: The Hope Project

Where Hospitality, Joy, and Community Reside

As you are likely sleeping, we are in Liberia starting our 5th full day. Currently, we are a team of 6 from the States. Two of us have been to Liberia and for the other four it is their first visit. I’m grateful these board members have invested their time and resources to see in-person what they have been supporting from afar.
 
Together, we have been meeting, greeting, learning, laughing, cooking, assisting, arting, planning, driving, eating, crying, dancing, and partnering.

We are collectively experiencing what I can only describe as a firehose of community, hospitality, and joy.
 
I (and others from the team) will be sharing stories and photos of some of the experiences that exemplify all that Hope is!

You, who have chosen to partner with Hope, would be so amazed at what this community has accomplished with your support.