Project Stories

Leaning on a trusted partner.

We met Epsi in 2018 in Chennai, India. We stood with her in her home, prayed with her, even got beautiful photos of her. We know her. She had been receiving a free meal every day at our local Feeding Center since 2013, and also went on to be part of our Backpack Project, where every year she would receive a backpack filled with all the school supplies she needed for that academic year.

My favorite part about the work we do overseas is that the people who are impacted by our projects don’t just stand in line for a free meal or backpack and then are on their merry way. No, they’re known. They’re seen. You see, we work with all local partners who have roots and relationships established in their communities. They know the people. They speak the language—literally and figuratively. They are the champions of change, and we at The Hope Venture just have the privilege of coming alongside them and helping make it happen.

Sunder Singh is one of those local partners in India, and he’s a hoot. A high energy, caring guy who drips with enthusiasm. He got to know Epsi through her coming to the Chennai Feeding Center, and in a couple years when her house was swept away by floods in 2015, Sunder Singh was there. He stepped in and supplied Epsi and her family with groceries and other essential supplies, a rock of support during a devastating time for the family.

Fast forward a few more years and Epsi had been receiving a backpack each school year. When it came time for her to apply to nursing college, Sunder Singh helped her with that process and she got admitted to a school nearby.

When she was living in a hostel and studying and homesick and wanting to quit, Epsi turned to Sunder Singh. He encouraged her and built her up and told her to hang in there. We’ve all needed to cry out to a trusted adult or mentor in our lives, and that was Sunder Singh for Epsi. Someone to pour into her. Remind her of truth. Encourage her to not give up.

To make the story even sweeter, Epsi also received a two-year scholarship from The Hope Venture, a massive burden lifted. There was no other source Epsi could turn to for financial help, and with the scholarship she was able to finish her studies and get a job working at a private hospital. She made it!

I smile as I write this. Do you know the impact a local partner can have on an individual? Do you know the role you can have in that? Do you know that 50 cents for a meal or 15 dollars for a backpack or 200 dollars for a college scholarship can take someone from not having much hope for their future to working as a nurse at a private hospital earning an income and breaking the cycle of generational poverty? Okay, I’ll let go of your shoulders now and catch my breath, haha.

Look, it’s just true. And that’s the best part. That all of this is true and not me just blowing smoke. If this speaks to you, I’d encourage you to follow that. Make a donation to our India Scholarship Fund and help put more students like Epsi through college. Or meander through our other projects and give to one you care about. There are tangible, positive, long-term effects our partners and projects have on people, and you can have a part in that and make this world a better place.

A Driving Passion.

You could say Aravind is a veteran when it comes to the Home of Hope… well-seasoned, wise, steady, weathered, and been around for quite some time. He is just 22 years old, and 17 of those years have been spent living in and around the Home of Hope, a homeless shelter in Bengaluru, India, run by our partner, Raja.

Aravind first came to the Home of Hope with his mom when he was a baby, but she ended up dying when he was only three years old. He no longer had his mom, but he had lots of people caring for him and could always count on someone taking him into an embrace, their face lighting up as he entered the shelter each day. The Home of Hope truly became his home. The people became his family.

Being at the Home of Hope is all he can remember. When he had nobody left, no money, and nowhere to go, they didn’t let him go. The Home of Hope was able to see him through it all, going with him every step of the way. It’s almost like Aravind and the Home of Hope were entered into a three-legged race, with their ankles tied together. If Aravind went one way, well, you bet the Home of Hope was there with him, supporting him and helping him in any way they could. And this wasn’t just because he was left to their care, orphaned and alone, but because, like I said before, the people at the Home of Hope became his family. They helped present him with the opportunity to go to school all the way through the ninth grade. And then… Aravind found his passion.

Driving.

Aravind loves to drive. He’s in his element when his hands grip the steering wheel in that familiar ten and two. He is the master of the car. He skillfully maneuvers the vehicle through the streets, through the crowds, and delivers the goods to their rightful destinations. And if you know anything about the bumper-to-bumper traffic in Bengaluru, you know that’s no small task. When he drives, he can make things possible that weren’t possible before… he can travel long distances quickly, load up his truck and move lots of things over large areas with little effort, and, his favorite, he can help save lives. 

One of the ways he loves to serve through his passion of driving is by driving ambulances, hence the way he saves lives. He now works as an ambulance driver for the Home of Hope, and he gets to carry out his passion every day, in a full-circle kind of way. He once was alone at the Home of Hope… no family, no money, no future plans. Now he gets to help people in circumstances so similar to his own by driving them to the Home of Hope, where they receive the medical care they need, often saving their lives. They also won’t leave without being surrounded by people to love and care for them, giving them opportunities to find their passions and be successful in the future, just like he had when he was left at the Home of Hope.

Water and Crocs: Beacons in a Barren Land.

Jemimh is just ten years old and lives in a little town in Kenya called Oletukat. To put it simply, the land is barren there. Everything you could imagine in this town is covered in a stale, brown dust. Naturally, as she walks around in her hometown, Jemimh’s bright blue crocs get covered in this dust, a constant reminder of the harsh conditions she lives in. But even with crocs coated in dust, their color still boldly screams out in contrast to the dull landscape. Similarly, even in the midst of this desolate place, Jemimh shines brightly with her lively personality.

If you meet Jemimh, you meet a friend. You’ll talk about your favorite hobbies—for her it’s net ball, skipping rocks, and playing hide-n-seek with her siblings and friends. You’ll talk about your passions—for her it’s science. She will share her interests with you, while also making you feel known. She is cheerful, inviting people into her circle of friends all the time. She can easily whisk you away into a fun yet intense game at any moment, rallying the people around her to also become energized by the competition of a simple game, like a hand slap game.

For people in Oletukat, access to clean water is difficult to find. They could buy clean water to drink, but this water is expensive. There are also a lot more things that require water in everyday life, like cooking and washing. Because of the expense of clean water, Jemimh and her family (a family of nine kids!) would draw water from wells that was unfiltered, murky, and dark. They would use this water to wash clothes and dishes, bathe themselves, and for cooking.

They made it work, but using dirty water for the basic needs of life isn’t something that should just have to be dealt with. Many organizations have been trying to assist in bringing clean water to the people of Oletukat—to Jemimh and her family. Drilling new wells wasn’t working—no water was found. A pipeline was built to bring water right into the town, and it did—but the water was dirty. So our partner organization, Nasha, began to work on a water filtration system, and we have joined them in trying to bring clean water to Oletukat. A system was planned, built, and implemented. Now Jemimh and her family can walk into town each day and get filtered water to use for their cooking and washing. The water isn’t completely purified, sparkling and clear, but it is filtered and not as murky as what they used before. It’s a step and progress to safer, cleaner water, which is something that impacts the lives of the people in Oletukat each and every day. 

Jemimh helps her family get water every day. She walks into town, goes to the filtration pump, and fills containers with water. Then she carries them home. This process is so simplified for her and her family, and they no longer have to spend hours each day searching for and traveling to get water. Instead, she just has to walk to the filtration pump in town and wait about five minutes for her containers to fill with water.

With all these extra hours of time, Jemimh spends that time of her day at school. She enjoys learning and has fun with her classmates. She can go to school clean and hydrated because of the water she has access to. Instead of spending hours walking to a well just to get dirty water anyway, she has time to be a kid… to play, to run, skip, hop, and laugh. She has time to slip on her bright blue crocs and go outside in a barren land, an excellent picture of the vibrant hope she has through the simple means of cleaner water.

Bringing Dignity by Knowing HOW to Do Something.

Her fingers gently lift the shoots of the plants, moving to the base of the soil. She plucks out a weed, and tenderly lets the greenery back down. She showers the plants with water, giving them the moisture they need to thrive. The way that she cares so intently for these plants reflects the way she cares for people in her life.

Sarah moves about the greenhouse with purpose as she works. Her hair is separated into beautifully twisted strands that are pulled into a high ponytail, completed with a sparkly pink barrette. She smiles softly and tenderly. Beneath her quiet demeanor is a girl with bold integrity and a strong work ethic, determined to do her job well.

She works at Wakisa Ministries, one of our partners in Uganda, in their greenhouse. Originally, Sarah got connected to Wakisa in 2017—she was 14 years old at the time, and she had just found out that she was pregnant. She was being raised by a single mom… her father had five wives, which didn’t allow him much time for Sarah and her siblings. Sarah’s mom was still trying to provide for all of them, so as a way to generate income, she rented out their house. They had a few tenants live in the family’s house, coming and going throughout the months, and Sarah ended up getting pregnant from one of them. She stopped going to school and began trying to look for jobs to provide for her soon-to-be-born baby. Sarah didn’t have much to offer as an uneducated, pregnant, teen girl. She was also facing the possibility of her mom kicking her out of the house if she didn’t find work. It was during this time that Sarah’s aunt brought her to Wakisa’s pregnancy crisis center.

While at Wakisa, Sarah was able to make lots of friends, learn numerous skills like cooking, candle-making, tailoring, knitting, and singing, all while they took care of her during her pregnancy and educated her about motherhood. After her time at Wakisa, Sarah tried to go back to school. But then with Covid hitting and things becoming even more difficult financially, Sarah didn’t have the means to pay for school fees, as she had to prioritize money to keep her and her son alive. Then in 2021 Wakisa called her to come back and attend their Agromax program, a program for teen moms to become educated in agricultural processes.

So Sarah attended Agromax and graduated from the program in 2022. After her graduation, Wakisa offered her a job position in the greenhouse. Wakisa testified to Sarah’s integrity and work ethic and said that is why they wanted her to stay and work for them.

Now Sarah works with the plants, and she loves it. She feels so good when she is working because it is something that she really knows how to do, thanks to the extensive education she received about agriculture at Agromax. She went from a place of extreme unknown in her pregnancy—not knowing what to do with her son, Darius, or how to provide for him—to feeling dignified at work and in her life. She is consistent and works hard so that she will be able to pay school fees for Darius and also help with school fees for her brothers and sisters. She cares deeply for her siblings and is always ready to help them and offer them advice so they may not end up in the same situations as her.

Faith and her faith.

Faith. An 18-year-old girl who lives in Mathare, a slum in Kenya. A girl who loves to go to school, taking classes like Christian education, Swahili language class, and home science, where she learns to cook and clean. A girl who loves to be creative. She takes her camera with her everywhere, awed by the beauty and wonder of the world around her and captures it with the click of a button. She loves art and expressing herself through it. She dreams of becoming a fashion designer, an outlet for her to take her dreams and put them into reality. Kindness, devotion, playfulness, sass, and steadiness exude from her. She loves to socialize with friends, cherishing time spent with them.

Faith is passionate about life and is overflowing with joy in all the activities she is involved in. However, her life isn’t free of difficulties. She lives with her mom, dad, and brother. Her dad is a boda boda driver (basically a motorcycle taxi) around the town, and he is gone all day looking for work. Her mom, Regina, sells chai to bring in income. But these jobs don’t bring in enough money to provide for the family. Regina desperately wants to provide for her family, and it’s really hard on her as a mom when she is unable to. The family often has to go without eating for the day because they don’t have enough money to buy food, and even with Regina’s best efforts, she can’t sell enough chai to bring them out of debt. And with this income level, there certainly wasn’t an option to pay for an education.

But Faith is now the first in her family to go to boarding school. This opportunity came through a connection with our partner, Purity, to get Faith a scholarship. Faith now gets to go to school, and she eats a meal there every day too.

Faith isn’t just the name of this 18-year-old girl that I’ve been telling you about, though. Faith is also a firm confidence and trust—a quality that is certainly not lacking in Faith’s life. Faith claims Jesus to be the Savior of her life. She says it simply: “I love him.” Her love for Jesus is so evident in her life and saturates all of her interests. She is dependent on him, and spends time on her knees praying to achieve her dreams, to help her family, and to help others. She knows He will always be close to her when she needs Him. She has seen His provision and His care for her, and she lives with joy in all areas of her life because of it. She is so thankful to God for the opportunity to go to school because of the scholarship she has received through The Hope Venture, and for the opportunities that may come in the future, allowing her to pursue a career or dream beyond the classroom.

The Simple Dignity of a Backpack.

Keerthana and Rashi… the unstoppable sibling duo. Their smiles—contagious. Their determination—relentless. Their dreams—immeasurable. Side by side, they are taking steps into a new future, one that was previously unimaginable for them. They pick up their backpacks and swing them around onto their backs, sliding their arms through the strap loops. The bags snuggle in against their spines, dependable and secure. The dark turquoise straps of their backpacks exuberate dignity as they rest on their shoulders. It’s like there’s no other place those straps can be, except lying on top of their shoulders.

They are so thankful for the backpacks that have been provided for them through The Hope Venture’s Backpack Project, because before they received them, going to school was difficult. Their parents don’t have stable and sustainable jobs. The work that they are able to get doesn’t pay a lot, and it’s pretty irregular. Their parents struggle to supply all the needs of their children, especially for books for school. According to their mother, not even the government helps them, and they feel pretty neglected. Even through all their efforts, there seemed to be no way to relieve any of the problems the family faced.

But then Keerthana and Rashi were able to receive a backpack filled with all the supplies they would need for the year, and circumstances changed. They were now ensured an opportunity to attend school and to strive for success. Any worries about affording their school supplies could no longer stand in the way. Their parents didn’t have to stress about stretching their finances to buy books and school supplies for them anymore.

A backpack. It’s something so simple! Now, because they received a backpack, Keerthana and Rashi can go to school. They are able to progress in their education and pursue their dreams of becoming teachers so they can help other kids just like them experience the joy, excitement, and dignity of being a student in a classroom.

Doing it differently.

We were in humid Northern India outside Delhi, sitting in Anuja’s cool air conditioned office. Anuja is the principal of Mt. Sinai School, an amazing school The Hope Venture partners with that provides free tuition to 25% of the students who come from impoverished backgrounds, and is sustained by 75% of students who pay for tuition and come from middle and upper class backgrounds.

We were discussing with Anjua and her husband, Deepak, if there was a student who had received free tuition we could chat with about their story. Anuja and Deepak liked the idea and had a student in mind they knew well, but were adamant that he shouldn’t feel different or singled out because he was part of the 25% group. They said that no students know who is paying and who is paid for, and even a student who is paid for might not know that themselves; a value Anuja and Deepak held strongly. We decided we would interview two students: one paying, one paid for. It was a conversation that mattered, and I respected Anuja and Deepak for the call they made. To its core, Mt. Sinai cares about its students and wants everyone to have the same, equal chance at success, no matter their background.

We pulled two boys from class to interview them: Aaditya, yellow shirt, 6th grader, receiving free tuition, and Navyaansh, blue shirt, 7th grader, paying tuition fees. Aaditya was a bit quieter, but had an old soul. Navyaansh was more of a talker and had a subtle confidence to him. They were friends and played on rival soccer teams at recess, which brought smiles and proud claims when asked whose team was better.

What got Aaditya coming to Mt. Sinai was his father’s big desire for him to receive an education from a school that taught English so well. Aaditya was admitted to Mt. Sinai, but in 2019, his father tragically passed away from brain cancer. This happened shortly before COVID-19 hit, and with Aaditya’s mom working full-time and unable to watch Aaditya and his sister, Aaditya stopped attending online classes once COVID-19 was in full swing and got into a bad friend group with older teenage boys.

Anuja took note of this and was concerned about Aaditya, so she reached out to his mom and invited her to come to her office and chat about what they could do for him. Aaditya’s mom was afraid that Mt. Sinai was going to kick him out of school due to his lack of attendance and her lack of ability to keep paying tuition, but Anuja remembered how badly Aaditya’s father wanted him to study there. Anuja offered to give Aaditya free tuition, a huge financial burden lifted off his mother and a way for him to be in a safe, productive place during the day and not out getting into trouble with his friends.

Aaditya returned to the school and was taken under the wing of Anuja and Deepak’s son, whose name is also Aaditya (Aady for short), and is the dean of Mt. Sinai. Aady really worked with Aaditya to get him back on track and succeed not only in school, but in life. Mt. Sinai’s motto is “building global leaders for tomorrow,” and focuses on the four pillars of mental, social, physical, and spiritual development. Mt. Sinai pours into its students at a relational level, and Aady mentoring Aaditya was a perfect example of that.

As for Navyaansh, he started coming to Mt. Sinai because it’s a Christain school, and Christian schools in India put a strong emphasis on teaching English, which was important to him and his parents.

Both boys’ faces lit up when they talked about how much they loved Mt. Sinai and the teachers there. They said that students can call their teachers Mon-Sat anytime before 10pm to get help with homework. I learned that in India it’s sooo common for students to be hit or verbally berated by teachers during class, but Mt. Sinai has a specific “no touch” policy and always builds up their students. Mt. Sinai does things differently, and it’s building a strong foundation in their students to pursue their big dreams and believe they can achieve anything; inspiration we all need in this world.

Both Aaditya and Navyaansh want to be part of the Indian Police Services when they grow up. They value protecting their loved ones and the community at large, and I believe in their capability just as much as their school does.

A Fulfilling Job—Filling Tummies, Minds, and Hearts.

Ambrose spends his days surrounded by young kids buzzing with explosive energy and unmeasurable joy. The excitement is contagious among all of the kids as they flood into the school building, ready for the day ahead. These kids are in primary school at Christian Eminent Academy in Narok, Kenya. The school was started by our partner, Nasha Ministries, in 2010. And now, Ambrose is employed as the administrator in the school.

While these kids come streaming into the school with big smiles and eager eyes, many of them are also stepping into the building with empty, hungry tummies. This has been a persistent problem for the students in the primary school ever since it opened. Most of the time, kids in Narok drop out of school right after or before finishing primary school because families in this area simply cannot afford to send their kids to school because of the school fees. The average income levels for families in Narok are very low. Someone might make $1-2 per day, and they often can only work two or three times each week because the jobs are often things like farming, washing clothes, driving a motorbike, or some sort of masonry or construction work. These jobs are inconsistent and may not always be available for people trying to work. Even with both parents working as much as they can, the income is way too low to fully support a family. So with this level of income, families have to choose if they are going to pay school fees or if they are going to feed the family. Christian Eminent Academy recognized this issue and wanted kids to be able to come to school AND get at least one meal each day, so they started a feeding program.

However, the school was struggling financially with this initiative. They weren’t getting enough fees paid by the students, and the cost of feeding every student each day wasn’t sustainable for the school. Food costs were rising, and along with all of this, there were still other financial needs that had to be met for the school, like teacher salaries.

To keep educating, transforming hearts, and empowering the poor and vulnerable students at Christian Eminent Academy was a huge goal that wasn’t going to be compromised.

A plan was created to supply nutritious food to the students through the means of small-scale agriculture right by the school. The farms grow corn, peas, beans, tomatoes, onions, cabbage, kale, spinach, and grass. The goal of the farm is to grow food for the students to eat, while also making enough money to sustain the farm itself and keep it going. On top of just sustaining itself, the farm is designed to generate income for the school, which can be used for other needs to keep the school functioning, taking a huge load off of Ambrose as he manages the school. A lot of the crop is harvested and sold—an investment in the future to keep this project going for years to come.

Ambrose has been able to see this project in its beginnings and he has been able to see its gradual progress in working toward achieving its goal. And in turn, Ambrose is able to see the kids at school be filled—physically with food, practically with knowledge in classes, emotionally with happiness, and spiritually with faith. While all of this is happening in the lives of the kids, the farm is producing crops to be sold so that the school can keep functioning and impact even more students.

Ambrose also gets filled by seeing the kids getting their needs met. With the assurance of at least one meal each day, the kids are healthier and happier, and they can focus more attention on schoolwork than before. Then, if they continue in their schooling, Ambrose gets the joy of knowing the kids will have more opportunities later in life because of their education. He takes so much joy in seeing these kids succeed.

He doesn’t just stop at watching the kids now but does all he can to make sure they continue to get the support they need to be successful in the future too.

His heart extends to each student as he greets them as they walk into the building, and he smiles, knowing his role as school administrator provides a safe space for them to come to school and be excited to eat, excited to learn each day, and launching them into a future of hope.

Known and Loved More than Skin Deep.

Leprosy is no joke in India. Jayraman and Madathesri would know. Both have had leprosy for around 30 years. In India, leprosy is not just a disease. It’s viewed as a curse from the gods. The person infected with leprosy becomes the disease, not just a person battling it. There is intense prejudice and little care given to those with leprosy. They are left to live in isolation because no one wants to be around them. They are considered “untouchables” in society. They are neglected. Rejected. Ignored. Unwanted. Abandoned. Left to themselves with no help or treatment.

Because of the lack of care, Jayraman and Madathesri’s physical condition has only gotten worse. Jayraman has experienced a loss of vision, and his arms and hands are affected. Madathesri’s hands have been affected the most, and she can hardly use her fingers.

The two of them have been married for about eight years now, and have a beautiful and healthy son and daughter in elementary school, hoping to complete their education. But achieving this goal is difficult when there are requirements for school fees to be paid, and they don’t have enough money to do so.

Because of the neglect and stigma they face in society, no one wants to hire them. Even if someone did hire them, they couldn’t work because their leprosy has gotten so bad that their hands cannot complete tasks, at least with ease. They are dependent on money or donations from others for their needs or are forced to pull from their slim savings.

Right now, some of their greatest needs include food and surgeries to treat the effects of their leprosy. Through the help of The Hope Venture’s Medical Kit Project, Jayraman and Madathesri have received medical supplies, clothing, and groceries in the medical kits they were given. These items are simple, and while they might not completely cure their leprosy, it shows that they are cared for and provides assistance to them when nobody else will. Another big piece of giving care to them came from Martin, a volunteer for the Medical Kit Project.

One day, he saw Jayraman walking along the road outside. Martin ran out, his feet frantically trying to place themselves back under himself, picking up pace as he rushed to meet Jayraman. Martin’s cheeks were tight from the big smile lighting up his face. He gently placed his arm around Jayraman’s shoulders as he came to greet him. Martin was not afraid to touch Jayraman, to be in his presence. Both of the men’s faces were beaming as they talked, displaying an excitement of connection—just one of the many ways Jayraman has found belonging and community.

Jayraman and Madathesri have been able to experience a pocket of community where they are no longer the outcasts of society. They aren’t neglected—they are cared for. They aren’t rejected—they are cherished for the humans that they are. They aren’t unwanted—they are welcomed with open arms. They aren’t abandoned—they have people coming alongside them and around them to help them out.

It’s in moments like this that hope is so vibrant for them. To be known and accepted as they are in their medical condition is evidence of the love poured out for them. Some of the steps taken to help them have been small, but it’s in these small steps that they see the realness of the love and acceptance they are being embraced with.