Hope For The Nations

Dairy Initiative Barn Building

Romania

Another great initiative through Mark and Coreen Biech in Romania!

Today the trench for the foundation of the Barn is finished. Tomorrow the wood structure for the cement foundation starts .... The Marcu family is very excited! It's getting closer closer to having a barn for the animals ...

Firm Foundations Romania - New Teen Group!

teens take part in the mentorship program

Romania's Firm Foundations has just expanded their sphere of influence to incorporate teens from neigbouring villages in a Teenage Mentorship Program! Children from poor communities attend a centre for underpriviledged children where they are mentored by nine ambitious teens who are helping them to accomplish great things! Congratulations on your endeavors in Romania, we are looking forward to seeing how you grow and progress!

Starting the Day Off Right!

Enjoying breakfast!

Here we are enjoying our family breakfast together...great start to the day! 

Justice Rising Kenya ~ Empowerment Against Trafficking

Girls listen to the "Can't Be Bought Campaign"

Justice Rising works in Kenya and Congo to protect young African girls from sexual exploitation and trafficking, rescuing them from brothels and working to foster a new hope and identity within them. Their "Can't Be Bought Campaign" reaches about 1,000 children every week, with the aim of bringing hope, love, and empowerment to those susceptible to trafficking and exploitation. Justice Rising seeks to begin a movement of change that brings awareness and spurs action to combat child trafficking. The Kenyan girls above are among those who have attended the "Can't Be Bought Campaign" and have been given the opportunity to live their lives free and powerful cataysts for a new Africa! 

The Small World

The Small World

Recently, Patti Hoy and Louise Arkle spent almost two weeks, in late April – early May, visiting our Hope for the Nations partners in Nepal. Both returned home with a very optimistic and positive response to the activities HFTN participates in there.

Despite the common weather related travel delays, three days were spent in the Himalaya Mountains with our TSW (The Small World) partner, Karma Sherpa, to visit the Solukhumbu Young Women’s Higher Education Project. Two years ago, HFTN partnered with TSW in the construction and maintenance of a hostel where forty (40) young women from surrounding villages have come to reside while they complete their ‘ten plus two’ (grade 12 equivalent). The difference that has been made in the lives of these young women, due in part to HFTN’s involvement, is impressive! Coming from diverse ethnic groups and disadvantaged backgrounds, the Hostel has enabled these young women to become part of the small minority of educated women in Nepal. Now, they are able to make plans and realize dreams for their futures. Patti and Louise, along with Karma, were able to share a celebratory evening at the hostel. Each of the young women received a pen with the HFTN logo and the message; “Congratulations on your success” as a memento of their significant achievement.

Below, are ‘testimonials’ of some of the young women at the Hostel.

“Since I moved in this hostel I have lived my life very happily, I got opportunity to learn and see those things that I have never expected in my life. Today I am able to speak up what I feel and I have basic computer skill. I feel very confident that I can be a(n) independent woman who will fight for my own right and teach other women to speak and be happy. Thank you for being there for us.” Devika Thulung

“I was born in the most remote village of Solu. I was not able to speak our native language Nepali. But now education helped me know the languages, meet different people and learn and explore so it really means everything for me.” Sadhika Kulung

“I would like to work for the development of my village … to work for the development of the country. … I have never thought that I can be so fortunate to receive this opportunity but from my true heart I would like to say thank you for providing this facility.” Dil Kumari Rai

“Thank you for helping us. Your help change(d) my life and I will promise to change many more lives in positive way as I can.” Yasuka Rai

“Education is very important to me because I want to do something for women of my village so my education is not only for me and my family but it is for entire community.” Doma Rai

“… There is a big gap between girls (and) boys in our society that always kept girls in a line below. Now we have to work to … feel ourself (sic) as equal to men so education is the first step of this solution.” Bimila Karki

After completing my education I will go back to my community and make some income generating activities using local resources where women can work and earn and support their own family. … I used to work as a porter, I carried rice and salt from Jiri to Salleri and paid for my school but now it is very comfortable here ….” Shaishama Khadka

“Girls and women in my community face extreme discrimination and are rarely involved in social activities where decisions are made. Today I feel confident to put my opinions in front of people and I am very happy for what I achieved staying in this hostel.” Prekshaya Rai

“I want to be a teacher and help educate more children of Nepal.” Pema Rinji Sherpa

As is characteristic, Karma and Sonam Sherpa of TSW are forward thinking and proactive. Upcoming projects that they are contemplating include the construction of a second young women’s hostel, on the same property, to enable those who have completed their ‘ten plus two’, to pursue post-secondary education. Further, TSW is undertaking to provide education to young women in the Solukhumbu region to empower them against the huge, and growing threat of ‘girl trafficking’. Whereas rescuing trafficked young women is very necessary, Karma and Sonam are pursuing a path to avoid, and ultimately eliminate, this crime in the Solukhumbu region.

HFTN is considering its involvement with TSW in these new endeavours. If you’d like more information about these new, or any of the existing projects, please don’t hesitate to contact HFTN!

Helping Rescue Soldiers One Child at a Time

If you walked among the smiling and friendly people of Myanmar (Burma), it might be hard to imagine that the country has over 75,000 child soldiers - more than any other country in the world.

Due to poverty and conflict in this area, family units are weakened, leaving many children at risk for recruitment. Our partner, Project AK-47, is on the forefront of liberating child soldiers in Myanmar.

Though there are many issues that Myanmar faces because of its diversity and lack of centralized leadership, the greatest need that our partners focus on is liberating the many child soldiers of the country.

As we work alongside Project: AK-47, nearly 200 child soliders have been released through diplomatic negotiation and by providing needed services to local communities.

Help us negioate the release of current child soliders and empower at-risk children in Myanmar to become children of change.

Empowering Children Through Education

Coastal Kenya has the nation’s greatest number of children involved in sex trade due to international tourism and business. Nelson Mandela once said that education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world -- and we couldn't agree more.

Which is why we're so excited about the Good Samaritan School. Located in the centre of the Mtwapa slum in Kenya, Good Samaritan School is helping break this tragic cycle of exploitation by providing children one of their most basic human rights: an education.

According to the United Nations, three quarters of the world's 61 million out-of-school children live in either sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia. More than half of these children are in nations suffering from war or political instability.

Education is essential to economic development in developing countries. Children who can read, calculate, and think critically have better economic opportunities, higher agricultural productivity, healthier families, and better reproductive health and rights.

Fundamental educational skills form the basis for all future learning, but today too many students across the developing world are missing out.

Help us empower children at risk in Kenya to become children of change.

Introducing Our Newest Partner - Tiny Hands

In 1994, we launched the HOPE vision in Kathmandu with our first home that cared for orphaned and abandoned children. Today, in 2013, our newest partner in the Hope for the Nations family is also carrying out the vision of HOPE in Nepal; Tiny Hands.   

Each year in Nepal, an estimated 10,000-15,000 girls are trafficked across the border where they are sold into Indian brothels and forced into prostitution. These girls range between the ages 7 and 24.

It is through Tiny Hands that Hope for the Nations is able to help prevent child trafficking and empower young women. The 2010 CNN Hero of the Year was recognized for similar work that Tiny Hands does on the Nepal – India border.  

Border monitoring is an effective way to intercept victims being trafficked across a national border. Along with local police, trained employees and border guards question the potential victims and suspected traffickers. Currently, Tiny Hands operates around 10-15 stations across the 1600 mile Nepal-India border.

The Dream Center is a Tiny Hands community of children's homes, a school, and a vision center, where volunteers and friends of Tiny Hands come and participate in an active, thriving community that grows together in faith and interdependency. 

Nicky Calvert has offered her hands by traveling to Nepal to climb to the Mount Everest base camp to raise funds for the children of Tiny Hands in Nepal. Nicky was able to surpass her goal and raise over $10,000. If you're interested in advocating for children in Nepal, you don't have to cross the globe, you just have to have to be willing to get involved. 

Join hands with us as we work together with Tiny Hands to rescue, empower, and raise up children from dark and desperate spaces to places of light and hope. 

Hope Digest - Updates from the Ground

We love to bring you updates and stories from our hard-working country partners around the globe. As always, we’re so grateful for your support as our staff and partners seek to empower children at risk to become children of change.

CONGO

HFTN co-founder and president Ralph Bromley, was travelling through the Congo recently to visit our country partner’s schools, homes, and students. Although he was excited for the visit, he was keenly aware of the possible dangers of the 7 hour journey up the mountain over very rough roads. Recently, 6 of our students were cut down by rebel cross-fire on their way down the mountain on foot to write school exams, victims of Africa’s “world war.” Read more.

KENYA

Coastal Kenya has the nation’s greatest number of children involved in sex trade due to international tourism and business. But HFTN’s Good Samaritan School, located in the centre of the Mtwapa slum, is helping to break this tragic cycle of exploitation by providing children one of their most basic human rights: an education. Read more.

MYANMAR (BURMA)

If you walked among the smiling and friendly people of Myanmar, it might be hard to imagine that the country has over 75,000 child soldiers - more than any other country in the world. Due to poverty and conflict in this area, family units are weakened, leaving many children at risk for recruitment. HFTN’s partner, Project AK-47, is on the forefront of liberating child soldiers in Myanmar. Read more.

NEPAL

Each year in Nepal, an estimated 10,000-15,000 girls are trafficked across the border where they are sold into Indian brothels and forced into a life of prostitution. With our new partner in Nepal, Tiny Hands, we're able to help prevent child trafficking through children's homes, a school, and a vision center, where Tiny Hands volunteers and friends foster community with empowered young women who have been given a chance at a brighter future. Read More.

Living for Today, Building for Tomorrow

HFTN co-founder and president Ralph Bromley, was travelling through the Congo recently to visit our country partner’s schools, homes, and students.

“I was sleeping in a dirty Congolese hotel in the city of Uvira, sweating under a mosquito net and trying to catch some sleep before driving up to the high plateau to see HFTN’s schools, homes and students.”

Although he was excited for the visit, he was keenly aware of the possible dangers of the 7 hour journey up the mountain over very rough roads. Recently, 6 of our students were cut down by rebel cross-fire on their way down the mountain on foot to write school exams, victims of Africa’s “world war.”

In his restlessness the night before his journey, Ralph shares some inspirational thoughts.

If a bullet pierced my side, would I “forgive them for they know not what they do?” Rebel’s madness, commander’s orders.

A spear, then a symbol of cruel domination, yet to be turned into plough shares. A bullet, now a symbol of rebel’s power under the direction of greedy despots and corporate bosses.

Will the heat of molten metal ever transform these projectiles to pencils? Will war and rebel activity ever be replaced by schools and students?

Today’s youth cry out: “How long, Oh Lord”?