Jessica Zach

The Yes She Didn’t Expect.

“Would I, could I soar? Will we fly high above the clouds together someday, little love? Even if just for a bit?”

The voice inside Mariam’s head wondered as she shifted her gaze to her baby girl, kicking her feet in the air with a giggle.

As she prepares for another feeding, Mariam considers this new great love of hers and humbly gives her best afternoon effort to keep her babe happy.

Checking the time, she is reminded that just a few months ago, she was in class with her closest girlfriend in math class. Mariam tries to shoo the memory away as quickly as it comes.

“Will I go back? Could I go back? Who will watch my child?” 

Mariam swats away the thought as she considers what it might be like to graduate from high school, or fly her first airplane, or prepare a financial statement for a client. As she ponders what it must be like to be a pilot or an accountant, her baby kicks, and she is greatly reminded of her newest title: mom.

But what came next in the following weeks was unexpected.

An announcement that Mariam had received the Youth For Christ Uganda’s Scholarship for Teen Moms.

As Mariam held her baby in her arms, she thought, “Maybe you and I will soar after all.”

Mariam’s jaw dropped slightly as she burst into a wide smile, baring her straight white teeth.

Sewing a New Story.

For 15 years, Lakshmi has wanted to learn to tailor as a way to earn an income and send her two children to school. With one in 7th grade and the other in 10th grade, Lakshmi and her husband have struggled to meet education fees while actively climbing out of debt.

In 365 days, Lakshmi not only learned how to sew, but she has also built a profitable and sought-after business.

Thanks to the South India Vocational Training project, Lakshmi received free instruction that taught her valuable skills, which helped her find success.

So much so that she earned 5,000 rupees (about $55) in profit, and made 12,000 – 13,000 rupees (between $130-$140) total before expenses. That meant that Lakshmi was able to pay back debt, and she is now able to float all of her expenses independently.

When reflecting on her story, Lakshmi said, “We need to continue this everywhere.”

Because we rise when we lift others.

Where Anushree Lives.

Where Anushree lives, the hills glitter green, the tree leaves stand tall, and wave “hello” to the forest floor below them. Just a third grader, Anushree plays in the grayish-blue Javadi Hills of India.

Where Anushree lives, earning a living as a daily wage laborer is common, with earnings often as low as $2.00 a day. For a family, that amounts to just $60 a month. Access to medical doctors is also rarely available. In her father’s case, a neighbor applied a homemade ointment that resulted in a devastating condition. His foot started to form a rash, then rot. Maggots began to eat away at his flesh, leaving his foot exposed to the bone.

As her father endured this injury, Anushree’s mother became the family’s primary earner. Taking on underpaid caregiving roles, her mom moved to another city away from home to support her family.

These events became quite discouraging for Anushree.

That is until she decided to attend The Hope Venture’s local Tuition Center.

With a sparkle in her eye, Anushree steps into the Tuition Center, her notebook brimming with fresh ideas and a renewed confidence sparked by her teacher’s uplifting encouragement: “You are capable.”

With your immense generosity, we are seeing children like Anushree be supported in some of the most remote areas of the world. Your gift brings opportunity, belonging, and hope.

Where Anushree lives, the palm trees dance, the people laugh and cheer—all for her.

Irene’s Story: Breaking Generational Poverty.

“I want her to have a good education. I want her to live a good life. I want her to do more than me and do great things,” gushed Irene when asked about her and her 5-year-old daughter’s future plans.

Irene is a College Scholarship recipient, and more importantly, our friend.

Born to Maasai peasant farmers, Irene’s large family kept cattle and sold their milk in the nearby villages. “Life was difficult, not everyone needed milk,” she shared. It can be typical in Massai culture for fathers to marry off their daughters for a bride price…typically one or two cows from the wealthiest suitor. This could have been Irene’s fate, had her father not passed away and had she not been put in school by her mother.

In Kenya, women who receive a college degree are more likely to join the workforce, achieve higher earnings, postpone marriage, prioritize their children’s education, and contribute to their communities.

And for the past three months, Irene has done just that! Serving as a primary school teacher, Irene works at the same school where she studied as a young student, setting a new precedent for her daughter’s future.

Remember that educated girls tend to prioritize their children’s education?

It’s because women are more likely to invest their earnings back into their kids, breaking the cycle of poverty.

It’s a story of hope and change. A story of fresh beginnings and greater possibilities.

It’s a story of how one generous donation will impact one girl, one family, and in turn, leave a legacy.

First Click to Empowering Her Future.

The digital age is often linked to smartphones, iPads, and viral TikTok trends. But for over a third of the global population, this is not the reality.

For Jayasree, that was not her reality.

Jayasree’s father, Rajappa, sells clothing door-to-door but struggles to make ends meet, while her mother works as a domestic helper. When Jayasree isn’t in 6th grade, she works with her mom for extra income.

Her happy place?

Learning about computers at school. And this is where it gets tricky, because what happens when the only school computer for all of the children no longer works?

Jayasree learns about computers in theory, but not in practice. That is, until she learned about The Hope Venture’s India Tailoring & Computers Project.

Through your gracious generosity, Jayasree was able to use a computer for the very first time! Through the program, Jayasree is being equipped with practical computer skills that will last her a lifetime.

When asked what Jayasree dreams of becoming one day, she said she wants to “become a medical doctor to help economically challenged people and encourage them to overcome difficulties in life.”

Sounds like one extraordinary purpose if you ask us, and Jayasree’s computer skills will help her get there. Thank you!