Project Stories

Making a Difference in One Life and Inspiring Dreams for Others.

Francis Kathitu lives in Mathare, which is the second-largest slum in Kenya. It is packed with people, highly dangerous, and is extremely impoverished. He’s one of 58 sponsored students there, and has proven to be industrious, intelligent, and joy-filled. He has dreams of pursuing higher education, and even to help in educating others in the future. He is also a natural-born leader, one that other students in his school look up to because of his discipline in school. While Francis had big dreams, achieving them was quickly proving to be impossible. He comes from a single-parent family and has an older brother and a younger sister. His siblings were both born from different fathers, and Francis has never known his own father.

His family situation has been difficult for him in many ways. With his father not in his life, it was a struggle for his mother to raise her children. She was a single mom, just trying to do the best she could to find any means of income for her family. Because of the pressure and expectations on her, she found a means of paying for food and rent through prostitution. For some time, this was income that was life-saving, but eventually, Francis’s mother contracted various diseases. 

These diseases were so detrimental to her body that her condition deteriorated and she was unable to continue working in order to provide for her family. As a result, she had to relocate to the countryside, and Francis and his siblings were unable to continue living in their home. Francis used to be sent home from school due to not being able to pay the necessary fees, which over time had accumulated to 45 thousand Kenya shillings ($316). Francis used to lie to his principal, saying that his mother would bring money in the future, and would ask if he could stay in class that day. Most of the time, the principal would get upset and send him away from school, causing Francis to miss most of his lessons and fall behind. On top of missing class, his school uniform was in tatters, and the sandals he owned were a gift from one of his teachers who noticed he needed some.

Thanks to our partnership with Fanuel in Mathare, we were able to find Francis a sponsor who has committed to paying his school fees, so he never has to worry about being sent home again. Included in his sponsorship was two school uniforms and a pair of shoes, so he did not have to worry about his school attire moving forward. As a result, he did better in school and was greatly improving in both his education and home life. He even was able to score a B+ grade in the school exams! Through sponsorship, his self-esteem was improving, and his dreams were becoming more of a possible reality.

Francis dreams of becoming a high school teacher who can make a difference in other students’ lives like his. He is now achieving good grades, making it realistic to dream of a career involving engineering or architecture. His ultimate dream is to help his family and the community around him, making a difference in the lives of students who come from families like his…so that they can now dream as he does.

Making an Impact for Change and Providing Relief.

Flavia is a pleasant, imaginative, and bright first-grade student. She loves studying math and science and enjoys normal kid things, like coloring and dancing. Her parents, Francis and Linda, raised her as an only child in their devout Christian family. Her father is a small entrepreneur, but he struggles to fulfill their basic needs through his business. His dream was to sustain his family and his business, while also trying to find a way to ensure Flavia had a good education. Recently, with inflation so high it made it difficult to invest in Flavia’s education and provide for the family at the same time. Although he wanted to do it on his own and find a way through entrepreneurship, things were just too difficult. So Francis did one of the hardest things to do: he asked for help. Francis reached out to our partners in India, asking them for help to assist in providing finances for Flavia’s education.

As a result of Francis taking the bold step in reaching out, Flavia was able to get a school backpack and other school supplies from our Backpack Project. Her parents were thankful that The Hope Venture could come alongside their family in providing aid for her education. She has dreams of being a scientist in the future and is very disciplined in her studies. Francis and Linda recognize The Hope Venture’s role in positively impacting the growth of not only their daughter but the community around them.

Hope for a Better Life Through Education.

Maiser Jahan is an eight-year-old girl who benefits from one of The Hope Venture’s India NFE (Non Formal Education) Centers. The NFE project was created to have schools established in impoverished areas to encourage children like Maiser to improve their chance for a formal education. India has not counted their citizens living in extreme poverty in a census since 2011. People who are living in these conditions are not cared for by society, and are left to pick up the pieces of their lives with the little they have. The NFE project strives to acknowledge the people who are impacted by poverty, and give them a chance at a different path.

In 2010, her parents found that they could not earn enough in their village to feed their children, so they migrated from Bengal to Delhi in an effort to keep their family afloat. Their main source of income relied on collecting garbage, in addition to Maiser Jahan’s mom working as a maid. Her father knew the value of education, as he struggled with being illiterate, and dreamed of his children having a different life. Their economic situation was so difficult that they fell below the poverty line. Between the two of them, they earned roughly one hundred USD per month, a small salary for a family of six. Due to this small salary, luxuries such as going to school, having nice clothing, and new toys were not things that her family could afford.

The family struggled so immensely that Maiser even recalls playing in mud and waste as a child. She grew her imaginative spirit by making up stories with her broken dolls and old utensils. Despite these challenges, being part of The Hope Venture’s NFE program has greatly improved her education, and given her a pathway toward a better life. She loves learning to speak English in her classes, and even tries to introduce herself in English to anyone she meets! Her teacher, Ms Sweata, encourages her to continue learning and says she is a very bright student. Despite the challenging upbringing for Maiser and her siblings, she continues to dream of a better future for her life, and dreams of becoming a police inspector to make a difference in her local community. To this day, the NFE project continues to invest in Maiser’s education in the midst of a society that has deemed her not worthy of investment.

Joy in the Midst of Sorrow.

Srirampura is a slum area in the heart of Bangalore City near the main railway station. The living conditions in these slums are immensely challenging as the houses are right next to one another, making the space crowded and tight. It is common for large families to live in a small room, no larger than the size of a bedroom. These tight living quarters greatly impact the quality of life for people in Srirampura. Many people suffer from poor hygiene and chronic illnesses as a result of contamination from where they call home.

Kevin is a young student in sixth grade at a government school. He lives in this slum area with his sister, Deepika. Their father, Krishnamurthy, earns a small daily wage doing construction work. His quality of life led him to deep despair and he turned to drinking alcohol to make himself forget his problems. He would get sick from drinking so much, he wasn’t himself, and it led to many heated arguments with his wife, Kavitha.

One day, Kavitha was so distraught from her husband’s addiction and was consumed by deep depression, that she took her own life. All the responsibility fell on Krishnamurthy to earn the income for the family and provide, leading to immense financial scarcity. Consumed by his grief, Kevin and Deepika’s father was barely able to put food on the table, turning to alcohol as an even greater source of comfort. As a result, Krishnamurthy’s parents stepped in to help take care of the children and took on responsibility for raising them.

During this difficult time for the family, Mr. Jonathan, a partner with The Hope Venture, became aware of the children’s story. He took personal interest in the well-being of Kevin and Deepika, and began to frequently check in with their grandparents to learn how they were doing. He was able to give Kevin and Deepika backpacks, lifting even the small burden in their life of not having the right supplies they needed for school. He knew that backpacks would not magically solve their problems. They still will have to cope with the pain of their mom commiting suicide, and their dad’s alcohol addiction. But even in this pain, having Mr. Jonathan care about them brought some relief, and gave them a sense of hope during their circumstances.

Empowering Dreams.

Velma is a driven student with an outstanding discipline and outgoing personality. She takes pride in dressing professionally, and presenting herself well. She is calm, talented, and brilliant in her studies. She has a sense of compelling confidence, and it is what sets her apart from the majority of students at her school. In fact, Velma attends Christian Eminent Academy, which is the school that our Kenya Ag Project provides some produce to to help offset the cost of their school lunches. She was even voted for the most discipled, dedicated, and presentable in her school…this girl is a rockstar!

Despite these achievements, however, she comes from a difficult background. After her parents’ painful divorce a few years ago, she was left to be raised by her aunt, who is married with three children of her own to raise. This transition was painful, as she grappled with the effect of moving to live under the care of an individual who wasn’t her parent. Despite these challenges in the transition, Velma dedicated herself to being a responsible student. She remained steadfastly resilient in the face of grief, and continued to press toward her goals. Much of her drive comes from a desire to unify her family again, and see them all come together.

Even though she has been blessed with being able to live with her aunt, she still faces challenges in having her basic needs met. However, thanks to the partnership between our Kenya Ag Project and Christian Eminent school, getting a daily school lunch is one less thing she has to worry about. Food is fuel, and hopefully this food can help fuel her to do well in school and achieve her dream of being a neurosurgeon.

Resilience Despite His Disability.

Mr. Jayakumar (also known as Mr. Kumar) lives in Tharapuram village in the Tiruppur District. Unfortunately, Mr. Kumar was born blind, leading to a life-long journey filled with many challenges. Although he has a little bit of his vision in his left eye, he is still considered to be fully visually impaired. While still dealing with visual challenges, his wife, Vijaya, tragically passed away in January of 2023 due to depression. Not only did she leave behind her husband, but they also have two adult sons, Devakumar and Devaraj, who are studying away in college.

Since the boys have a tragic family situation, they have been granted multiple scholarships but are still required to pay for their food and other necessities. Mr. Kumar has tried to earn a bit of money to help out his sons and travels from one village to another selling pens, pencils, and erasers to anyone who will buy. His disability makes living and doing daily tasks an immense challenge.

Mr. Selvakumar, a local social worker, got connected to Mr. Kumar. He has a deep concern and care for people who are blind and strives to help them in any way he can. He decided to organize a meeting in April and asked Mr. Kumar if he would like to attend. Mr. Kumar decided to attend the meeting, but wasn’t even able to prepare food that morning beforehand and also doesn’t have someone who can help him cook. Frustrated with not being able to cook a meal, he rushed out the door and caught a bus to the meeting. By the time he arrived, he was immensely hungry and tired. To his surprise, he noticed there was food provided at the meeting and it was nutritious and refreshing. He found out that The Hope Venture had supplied his meal, and was thankful for organizations like The Hope Venture who come alongside individuals to tangibly help them in their need.

Relief Amidst a Transition.

Elizabeth resides in Sevanager, a central part of Bangalore City in India. She is the mom of three young daughters: Sheela, Jayasheela, and Angel. Elizabeth’s husband, Appu, tragically passed away five years ago due to tuberculosis. Not only was his death emotionally painful, but they also lost a form of income for the family. Appu was a painter and earned daily wages, so their income wasn’t steady, but it was incredibly vital.

After his death, Elizabeth began doing domestic work in various homes to earn a living and provide for her daughters. Although Elizabeth was diligent in finding work and providing for her family, she still struggled to pay for rent and other necessities. Previously, her daughters were enrolled in a private school, but they had to shift to continuing their education in a public government school because the fees were so expensive.

This transition was incredibly difficult for the family. Imagine losing your father, having your mother trying to make ends meet, having to change schools, make new friends all over again, all while trying to grieve the immense loss. Added to this loss, Elizabeth struggled to afford items that could help with the girls’ education. Luxuries such as school backpacks were the first to go. Mrs. Mary Latha, an instructor at one of The Hope Venture’s tailoring centers, learned about Elizabeth’s struggles and her daughters’ experiences being in school without the proper supplies. She shared this with the manager of the center, Mr. Denzil Vinodh, and they were able to secure backpacks for all three daughters.

Because The Hope Venture’s staff from the tailoring center heard Elizabeth’s story, they worked to connect her to another partner of The Hope Venture who could provide backpacks… they were able to come together and provide holistic help for Elizabeth! The backpacks, though not able to change the entire financial situation for Elizabeth’s family, provided immense relief for her. It was a small step toward improving their quality of life. With the help of The Hope Venture coming alongside families like Elizabeth’s, they can find comfort in people coming alongside them, seeing their needs, and equipping them moving forward.

Fiercely Passionate in All She Does.

Arms slice through the air as they glide back and forth in a steady rhythm to propel the runner forward. Feet strike the ground to create a tempo boosting the runner with each stride. Lungs fill and deflate with deep breaths to oxygenate her system. Running a sprint is, well, intense… just like Linda. She’s driven, passionate, and diligent in her craft. She’s a sprinter, and a very talented one at that.

Linda was doing all the right things. She was a role model for other young girls at school and in track. She worked hard and excelled. But Linda was also dealing with poverty, and that put her in a bad place. Her mom couldn’t provide for her. Even though she had success and freedom at school, she still couldn’t afford basic items at home like soap and sugar.

In her hard-working, go-getter way, she wanted to improve her situation. So when a teacher at her school offered to help her out, she accepted. He began to provide money for some of her basic needs—but it came at a cost. He took advantage of her vulnerable state and demanded sex from her. After this happened multiple times, Linda became pregnant.

She felt so worthless. Shame overwhelmed her. She was beyond embarrassed because everyone at school knew what happened and called her names. All her dreams were stripped away. She stopped competing in track and couldn’t attend school. She was crushed, her dignity was depleted, and depression set into her deepest parts. Linda felt no value in living anymore. She would angrily look down at her pregnant belly through tear-filled eyes, punch her stomach, and yell. She did NOT want this baby, but even with her family encouraging her to abort, she wouldn’t go through with it because she had heard horror stories of women dying from abortion. She felt stuck in her ruined life and stuck with a new life forming inside her own… she wanted to just end it all.

It was in this state—this feeling of desperate brokenness—that Linda got connected to Wakisa, our partner organization in Uganda. She came to Wakisa during her pregnancy, and they helped teach, prepare, and transform Linda. It was at Wakisa that Linda found love. Found compassion. Found redemption. The counselors there helped her process through her situation, and let her cry on their shoulders. They loved her, and they helped teach her how to love her soon-to-be baby girl. They helped restore her dignity.

After Linda gave birth to her daughter, Elizabeth, she left Wakisa with a renewed sense of hope and strength in her life. Linda didn’t want to give up—she wanted to continue to work hard so she could provide for Elizabeth in ways that she was never provided for as a child. She went to a local church and learned how to cook. This sense of purpose and challenge reignited her flame of passion in life, just as it had burned when she was an athlete and student. She began volunteering at a kitchen and eventually, she was offered a job.

As incredible as it is to hear that Linda went from a high school dropout to keeping a full-time job that provides for her family, her story doesn’t have a fairytale ending. Yes, she pays her family’s rent and school fees for Elizabeth, but it’s still not enough. When we met Linda, she didn’t have enough money to send Elizabeth to school with a snack like all the other kids had, and she couldn’t afford medicine for her grandmother’s heart condition, so they just went without it that week. Whether it’s a simple school snack or necessary heart medication, it all resonates the same: Linda is still unable to make all the ends meet, even after doing everything she can. And yet, it’s Linda’s attitude that is so inspiring. She didn’t choose to be born into poverty, but she’s making the most of life. The strength of an athlete—a sprinter—burns in her as she presses forward to accomplish her goals.