Welcome to Summer School: Hope 101

Summer is here and we hope your long, sunny days are filled with time spent doing the things you love. Hope International ends its 2025/2026 school year on July 10th. We celebrate together with students, staff, and our stateside community 18 years of Hope being Hope. Some of you reading have been here from the earliest of days (thank you!) and some of you have come alongside throughout the many years (thank you!).

Over the next couple of months, we will be sharing weekly Hope 101 primers.

The first few emails may feel a bit heavy, but we ask you to stick with us. It is important to know the context in which Hope International came to be and its purpose today. The series will start with some Liberian history, the civil war(s), and the slow rebuilding, all reminders of the beauty and challenges that exist, and why the school is such a unique and impactful model. We are starting with the macro and will narrow the lens each week, arriving finally, to the hope-filled students who are the reason we exist. 

The past 18 years have built connections and possibilities and purpose. We have learned and grown together into something rare and solid. At its foundation and in every endeavor of Hope are the students who will lead Liberia forward. We may be a small organization, but the hope and impact generated through our stateside community and our Liberian partners has been nothing short of world-altering.

We hope you will read each week, settled in with a cup of coffee in hand, and remember where we have been and see just how beautiful the way forward can be.

New from This Side of the Ocean

You don’t often hear about the stateside operations that work in support of all the good things in Liberia. I wanted to let you know about some happy changes here with our team.
 
After 11 years in my position as Executive Director, the board has approved my request to restructure my job to be shared. One full-time position will now be filled by myself and Sandi Bammer. We asked Sandi to share a little bit about herself and her connection to Hope.

“My connection with The Hope Project began about 15 years ago when I met Jackie playing roller derby! Over the years, I’ve stayed involved with Hope in various small ways, and I was so excited to join the board last summer. Traveling to Liberia in January was life-changing, and experiencing the work firsthand made the impact of Hope feel even more personal and real in a way I wasn't expecting. I was honored and excited to be asked to step into the shared Executive Director role alongside Jackie. As a former small business owner and longtime community collaborator in the Wenatchee Valley, I care deeply about creating connection, supporting community-centered work, and bringing people together — usually around food and good conversation. I’m thrilled to be part of this next chapter with Hope and excited for all that’s ahead!”

Sandi, Jackie, and Andrea


Andrea Britt will remain as Associate Director and is celebrating her 10th year. I feel like the luckiest person to work alongside these two. Sandi officially begins on June 1st and can be reached at sandibammer@hopeproject.org. Feel free to send her an email of welcome.
 
Speaking of people we are lucky to have, Bettina, Tom, and Sam have recently joined our Board of Directors. We are excited to have their leadership and talents. Please join me in welcoming them.

The heart of what we do all together happens in Liberia. These people, alongside you who generously give, make so much possible.
 
Together Here and There,
Jackie

Two Things to Celebrate...In No Particular Order

 
 

Many of you may remember in April 2025 we shared the story of 9 amazing Hope International teachers. They were in their final semester working towards their advanced teaching certifications when they received terrible news. Funding for their coursework had been halted when the United States discontinued USAID funding in Liberia. One of the challenges Liberia faces is the lack of support in the continued education and training for the country’s teachers.

The teachers were saddened by the news. After hearing about what happened, one of our stateside families (a teacher herself, alongside her supportive partner) stepped in and funded the last semester for all 9 of Hope’s teachers. And the generosity didn’t stop there. Another partner (also a former teacher) in this community shared a monthly gift to help cover the transportation costs for one of the teachers to attend classes.

Fast forward to Saturday, April 25th, all 9 of these teachers graduated! Just look at them shine. Their hard work and sacrifice combined with the generosity of this community made such good things happen.

Hope Teachers: Prince Chedeh, Portia Tuan, Hellen Siryee, Teetee Nyanford, Bessie Cheechea, Cleopatra Cooper, Josephine Appleton, Thomalina Banmore, Moses Forkay


 
 

Last week we shared with you our post-event financial picture and the reality of where we stood short of our goal. This community stepped in and continued their generosity streak. With pre-event gifts, the donations and pledges night-of, and the post event expressions of Hope, we find ourselves having met our goal. Words cannot express the gratitude we hold.

We are flush with examples of being Better Together, but this one is extra sweet.