University Graduate

Deborah Gibson, our first One shirt. One girl. scholarship recipient, is graduating university this December and will go on to serve her country and community as a nurse. Deborah wanted those who supported her educational journey to know, "words are inadequate to express how grateful I am. Thank you to all for making my dream a reality."

When you buy products from One shirt. One girl. real students receive a college education. To purchase products and support our next recipient, Christiana, shop here!

Congratulations Deborah! Shine bright, we are so proud of you!

Seasons Greetings

Hello Partners in Hope,

As we enter this season of reflection and celebration, I wanted to share with you a quote (or in my case mantra) that has been particularly meaningful to me this year.Nelson Mandela is credited in saying, “it always seems impossible until it’s done.

These powerful words have been true to us throughout the past eleven years as we have collectively worked together to create a school from literal war-torn rubble to a community haven for over 1,200 students in Liberia. There were so many times that the impossibility, or even the ludicrousness of the attempt, were ever present. How would we ever have the funds to do it?  How did we know the funds would continue? Were we in over our heads (yes!)? These questions can be paralyzing. The “impossibility” of it all loomed large.

This year though, this year things have been a bit different. With your partnership and our amazing staff in Liberia, so many seemingly impossible things have been made possible.

A few examples:
It once seemed impossible that our school campus would include a 3 story classroom that replaces the “death trap” building. Through the generosity of businesses and individuals, it now stands as a hope-building tribute to us all.  It is almost done.

It once seemed impossible that we would have the additional funds needed to buy a school vehicle. We now own a large, 30-seat van, making seemingly impossible things possible for our students and staff. It is now done.

It once seemed impossible that we would have the funds to begin a vocational program, benefitting our students and community. Through a generous grant from Project Redwood of the Tides Foundation, Sew Much Hope is creating the possibility for training and small business opportunity. It is now done.

It seemed impossible that we would have funds to support our graduates in post-high school educational opportunities. Today 70 graduates are chasing their college dreams. It will never be fully done…but it is happening.

You have all been a part of making the seemingly impossible, possible. In a world that one can feel challenged to impact change, I hope you see how your generosity is lowering the roadblocks for so many who needed this impossibility to be transformed. You did this. We did this.

Would you consider contributing this season to all of the impossibilities we want to make possible in the coming year?  Although being in the red is a festive holiday way to be…it is certainly not something we want for our bottom line. Year-end gifts ensure that we meet our budget and all the hope happenings continue to buzz right along. You make it ALL possible.

We are grateful for you this holiday season, and every other day as well.

With Holiday Gratitude,

Jackie Frazier
Executive Director
The Hope Project

Hope News

Hello Partners in Hope,

Soon the holiday hustle and bustle will begin and our mailboxes will be flooded with catalogues, appeals, bills and hopefully a few cards sprinkled in. May we embrace it all…the chaos, the joy, the things that happen not-as-planned, but turn out seemingly better nonetheless.

I wanted to share with you an exciting Hope happening. At the end of September, we were able to increase the salaries of our teaching staff in Liberia to give them a long-overdue raise. Your consistent generosity enabled this additional $1,000 a month to happen and one day we hope to do even more. Since our doors opened 11 years ago, it has been our goal to provide a strong living wage for the entire Hope International staff, many of whom are pursuing further certifications in Liberia to become even better educators. The school exists today because of the staff’s commitment to the kids and the community. They offer the foundation for the nearly 1,200 kids that walk through the gate each day.

Speaking of our fabulous teachers and the onset of holiday frenzy, please mark your calendars for GivingTuesday on December 3rd, 2019. “GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world on December 3, 2019 and every day. nov/dec 2019 It was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past seven years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.” As was our goal last year, we use funds raised on GivingTuesday as an opportunity to provide each of our staff members in Liberia with a holiday cash gift. Our goal this year is $3,000.00.

When I was in Liberia last year, so many staff asked that I convey for them their gratitude at this extra gift. They use it to meet the needs of their families, buy food, medications, and clothing. Life in Liberia is hard…I mean really hard. It remains the 4th poorest country in the world and even our staff struggles deeply to make it all work. Your generosity lightens their load and they are tremendously grateful. To donate for GivingTuesday, visit us at: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/hopeproject or find us on Facebook @thehopeprojectliberia.

I am excited to share with you that I will have the opportunity to travel to Liberia for most of the month of January. During my time there, I will be living with our school principal, Joseph and his wife Tiangay and all of their children.

I will be joined for a part of the trip by Board Member, Ron Skylstad and photographer/videographer, Jake Martinez. They will capture photos and videos of the students. Both are volunteering their time and talent.

After they leave, Board Members Jeff Huse and Dave Frazier will be arriving and delivering (fingers crossed) 40-50 laptops. While there, they will work with the Liberian staff to get the computer lab up and running. We are 3/5 of the way towards our $10,000 goal of having the needed funds to complete the computer lab. A BIG thank you to the Microsoft Employee Give Campaign that helped us get this far.

I look forward to meeting with staff and students and checking in with all of our scholarship recipients. I will get to see firsthand, the Sew Much Hope program up and running and the Liberian Motorcycle Club recipients slaying their new businesses. Please watch for email and social media updates as I will be sharing in real time, all of the seemingly impossible things your generosity makes possible.

Speaking of making the impossible, possible…please mark your calendars now for Saturday evening, March 21st, 2020. This will be the theme for our Seattle Celebration and Fundraiser. We have some fun surprises planned and will have stories and updates galore to share about how together we are making the impossible, possible. As the beautiful unfolding continues, know that it is YOU that holds hope for us all.

With Heart Bursting Gratitude,

Jackie Frazier