News From Liberia.

In the last week alone, there has been a 43% jump in the number of reported COVID-19 cases in Africa, and the World Health Organization warned the continent of 1.3 billion people is poised to potentially become the next epicenter. This is our deepest fear at The Hope Project, yet with your generosity, we continue to assist in keeping our Liberian friends safe and fed.

Because of you, $10,000 has been raised to create a community hub for the staff, students, and community members surrounding Hope International. The final $5,000 was recently wired to Liberia. The hub is open and provides emergency portions of rice and sanitation supplies. In addition, Our Sew Much Hope students have produced 1,800 masks that have been distributed throughout the community for it is now required to wear a mask in Liberia. Your gifts have life-saving impact, thank you. 

Together, we will be ready for what comes next. Thank you for your continued partnership in HOPE.

Love From Liberia.

Together we are making the impossible, possible. In just a few short weeks your generosity has generated over $10,000 for COVID-19 relief efforts in Liberia. With those funds, we built a community hub to ensure our Liberian friends have emergency food and sanitation supplies. Your gifts also purchased fabric for 1,800 masks, sewn by Hope International students, and distributed to teachers, staff, and community members. I am in awe of your giving heart. 

Like so many organizations, we had to cancel our previously scheduled May 31, 2020 celebration and fundraiser. Not only is this an evening of celebration, but it is our biggest fundraiser of the year. The funds raised at this event are a significant part of our general operating budget which keeps school in session
and teachers paid.

Our goal for the event was to raise $25,000 net profit for our school operations. Not only is this goal more than we have ever raised at an event, but now we have the added hurdle of it not being in-person. Gulp. But the theme of the night was to be “Making the Impossible, Possible”, so that feels just about right.

One of the things that I was most excited to share with you was this video. It was a work of love during our recent trip to Liberia in January 2020. It was a tangible way for our Liberian friends to thank you for the opportunities that have been afforded through the generosity of our Hope Project supporters like you. Please stop reading and watch before continuing.

Did you feel it? Did you see it? Joy. Possibility. Gratitude. Hope. 

So, What Now? 

Our goal has two parts:

1.  Raise $25,000 to support The Hope Project.

2.  Thank Liberia.

How?

Join Our Community of Hope:

• Become a Pledged Hope Partner. Making a recurring monthly, quarterly, or annual donation ensures that The Hope Project receives ongoing support. If you are already a Hope Partner, please consider increasing your pledge. These gifts provide the stability needed to budget, plan, and dream. Join The Hope Project today.

• Make a one time gift. If you desire to share your resources in a way that brings real benefit to real people…we can promise you that is happening. Give today. We would be so incredibly grateful.

Make a Video to Send to Liberia:
At our event, we planned to film a thank you video. A call and response of sorts. They thanked us, and we would have the opportunity to thank them. A video to thank our Liberian partners for their commitment and care for the children of Hope International. A thank you for their examples of tenacity, joy, community, and taking good care of each other. And mostly, thanking them for letting us participate in the beauty unfolding in Liberia. Are you ready? Let's dance!

• Make a thank you sign, play a little Love Train by the O’Jays, grab your family, and dance like no one is watching. Need a little inspiration?  Watch my video here.

• Email your 30-second video clip to info@hopeproject.org. We will put the clips together and create a gift of reciprocity for our Liberian friends, made even more poignant during this time of fear and pandemic.

Really bold and beautiful things are happening in Liberia: scholarships, micro-loans, vocational certifications, a growing school campus…but the heart of what we do is the daily operation of Hope International School. A school created to provide education to students who would not otherwise have the opportunity, in the 4th poorest country in the world. Through your partnership and generosity, together we will work to empower and educate Liberia's next generation of dream chasers.

You make the impossible, possible. For that, I am so very grateful.

Jackie Frazier

Seattle Fundraising Event Canceled.

Though this will most likely come as no surprise, we will, with heavy hearts, be canceling our Sunday, May 31st “Making the Impossible, Possible” fundraising event and celebration.

We are all grieving the loss of future events and plans such as graduations, weddings, births, travel, and family celebrations. What all of these have in common is human connection. We are saddened that this night, our favorite celebration of the year, won’t get to be spent together. We had a beautiful menu prepared, local wine ready to uncork and hand-made pendant flags in the most brilliant West African fabrics just waiting to be hung. We had words to share of gratitude, struggle, possibility and most importantly, hope.  All of us together, in one lovely room, celebrating what has been made possible and what we are still reaching for. 

Not only is this an evening of celebration, but it is our biggest fundraiser of the year. The funds raised this evening are a significant part of our general operating budget which keeps the school in session and teachers paid.

The current global pandemic has pivoted our work from future needs to the immediate needs of our Liberian students and partners. Together, in 3 weeks, we have raised over $5000. These funds go directly to ensure the safety and nourishment of our Liberian community during COVID-19.  

The work does not end here. We are still dreaming big dreams. Perhaps bigger than ever before. We have a community of students and staff who depend on The Hope Project. Our goal for the event was to raise $25,000 net profit for our school operations. This is a significant part of our annual budget.

The Hope International School provides:

 • Employment and stability for over 70 dedicated full and part-time Liberian educators and support staff for nearly 1,200 students and 100+ adults in night school, who we will continue to pay throughout this pandemic.

• A full-time nurse, providing medical support for the students and surrounding community members.

• Stateside staffing for three part-time employees, a team that exists to make sure the school is funded.

How You Can Give HOPE

• Although our evening has been canceled, we hope you will consider your ticket purchase a donation. We understand these are uncertain times for many. If you desire a refund please contact info@hopeproject.com.

• Click here to learn how to donate today

One of the things that I was most excited to share with you on May 31st was a video we made while in Liberia this January. Please be on the lookout for this video in your inbox very soon.

I believe during these uncertain times, the one thing we can be certain of is the power of our community of HOPE. We are making extraordinary dreams a reality. Thank you for making the impossible, possible.

I am grateful for your understanding and generosity. Together, we are HOPE.

Jackie Frazier
Executive Director