Joanna Schaus

Pain into Purpose.

Aisha lives with her grandmother in Central Uganda. She is a strong-willed mother who cares for her community and approaches life with optimism. But Aisha’s life hasn’t always been this way. 

When she was just a young girl, her mother and father tragically passed away, leaving her in the hands of her grandmother. Despite her grandmother’s efforts to provide a good future for her, their income remained tight, and she struggled to cover their basic needs.

One day, when Aisha was running an errand, she was suddenly attacked and sexually abused. This horrible crime led her to become pregnant. She was terrified because in her culture, she knew that this was incredibly shameful for unmarried women.

Aisha felt desperate, like her life was falling apart. She already had little income, and now had to think about a baby boy she was going to bring into the world—how could she do it alone? 

Aisha hopes to eventually send her son to school, so he can also learn skills and dream for the future. She also has her own dreams of opening up a tailoring shop and teaching other young mothers the same skill she now has.

Around this time, she got in contact with our partners at Wakisa, who help young moms learn vocational skills. Through our partnership with Wakisa, Aisha was able to learn how to sew clothes, and eventually began to provide for her grandmother and her son.

Even though her life has been difficult, she has been able to turn unspeakable pain into purpose.

Empowerment through Education.

Angelique is a young, hard-working woman who lives in Rwanda. She learned hard work from her parents, who fought to provide for her and her siblings growing up. Although her parents are separated, she admires their work ethic and how they always wanted to give her a better life. 

Since their income was unstable, Angelique had a challenging time getting proper materials for college, such as textbooks and writing utensils. She did very well academically, so she was able to get scholarships that covered the tuition, but accommodation to be able to attend school was a luxury she just couldn’t afford. 

That’s when she got connected with us and became a recipient of our Acts4Rwanda College Scholarship. This scholarship provided her with a place to stay during school, writing materials, and food while at college. After she is finished with her education, she will be able to secure a stable job, so she can help her family have a better life.

This scholarship doesn’t just empower her to do well in her studies; it impacts her entire family and gives her the freedom to dream new dreams. 

Hope in the Face of Illness.

Mr. Chaitan Hansda is sixty-four years old and lives with leprosy in India, a condition that has impacted every part of his life. When Chaitan was a child, he received the diagnosis that left his parents in financial hardship, struggling to afford his medical bills. Chaitan stopped seeing his friends, playing outside, and being a kid. His identity was shattered.

Leprosy wasn’t just a disease that impacted his health; it robbed him of his childhood. 

One day, feeling trapped and alone, Chaitan decided to end his life. His parents and neighbors were thankfully able to save him from that life-altering decision, rallying the community around him.

Through prayer and love, and with the help of medical treatments, Chaitan’s condition improved, leading him to eventually get married and have children. Finally, it seemed like he could begin to live the life that was once stolen from him. 

But with the overwhelming family demands, Chaitan was unable to continue his medical treatments, and his family was slowly unraveling. Consequently, his illness returned, not only touching Chaitan’s life again, but also his wife’s. 

Determined not to be a victim of his illness, Chaitan arrived at The Hope Venture’s Leprosy Care center. He’s been able to receive free medication for ongoing treatments. He is now able to stand and walk with decreased pain. Although his life still isn’t perfect, he is finally able to have hope for the future.

Relief in the Face of Hardship.

Hariharan lives in a small mountain village in India. His father works in the fields near the village and earns a daily wage. His family’s financial situation is poor, making it difficult for his sisters to find spouses. Although they have a roof over their head, the family’s biggest concern is where their next meal will come from.

Nearly five years ago, His mother, Pushparan, developed gangrene in her leg, which quickly spread to her other leg. As a result, she had to have both of them amputated. She is more vulnerable since the family lives in a remote, isolated village; they can’t just take a trip to the hospital whenever they want.

Pushparan’s disability has taken a toll on the family, and Hariharan found himself discouraged by the hardship they were facing. In the past, there had been days when there wasn’t food in the house, and the family was forced to go to bed hungry.

 That’s when The Hope Venture stepped in, and through their feeding center in India and the Jawadhu Hills Project, Hariharan was able to gain education and a consistent meal in the evenings. He was even able to share food with his family and play a part in easing the burden of economic hardship.

Because of The Hope Venture, his parents feel immensely thankful, and are hopeful for the future Hariharan is now able to have because of their work. His dream is to be educated and to have a permanent job, so he can finally have a stable income to help him provide for his family.